THE Queensland Firebirds are finally on the board in 2023 after they defeated the GIANTS 70-66 to nab their first Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) win of the season. Continuing where they left off last week, the Firebirds played with confidence and really rattled the GIANTS to get up by four goals.

It was a confidence boosting start from the Firebirds in the opening term, who capitalised on a defensive turnover and then consolidated to take the early lead. They continued to really capitalise on their gained turnovers and their lead continued to grow as the quarter progressed, which was already out to as much as six goals inside the opening five minutes.

Even the attackers were really strong on defence for the Firebirds, getting plenty of tips and making things really hard for the GIANTS across the court. The lead had stretched out to seven at the start of the Power Five, but the GIANTS were not afraid to go for the Super Shot from the get go. However, it took them four goes before they were finally able to land one, which just shows how much pressure they were under.

Although they had an unusually high number of Super Shot misses, the GIANTS had managed to reduce the margin to only four goals by the end of the quarter. The GIANTS had the much better of the two starts in the second term, and slowly but surely worked their way back into the game.

They got to within one goal of the Firebirds about halfway through the term, but things did not go all their own way as Jo Harten went down with injury. As the Power Five progressed the GIANTS were able to take the lead, but it did not last long as the Firebirds levelled things up.

One problem that plagued the Firebirds for much of the second quarter was their passing, which was not as strong or confident as it was in the first term and the GIANTS able to intercept the pass far too easily. The GIANTS retook the lead, before the Firebirds levelled things up again in the shadows of half-time.

In a mirror of the first quarter, the Firebirds came out of the blocks blazing in the second half and racing out to a five goal lead. The defensive pressure in particular from the Firebirds was impressive, and it really made it tough for the GIANTS to get much power in their attacks.

It was out to a seven-goal margin at the start of the Power Five, but a late resurgence from the GIANTS saw the margin sit at three in favour of the home side at the final change.

The GIANTS got the better start in the final term before the home side steadied and stopped the slow. The visitors had another resurgence before the Firebirds countered again, and that was the tale for much of the final term.

There was again plenty of Super Shots from the GIANTS to end the quarter, but there was from the home side too, which meant that it was not enough for the GIANTS to pinch the win late.

For the Firebirds Donnell Wallam (51/53 regular goals, 44 Super Shots, two feeds, two assists, one deflection, one gain, one intercept) had another solid game in attack, as did Remi Kamo (six deflections, three gains, two intercepts) up the other end.

Meanwhile for the GIANTS, Maddie Hay (28 feeds, 15 assists, three deflections, an intercept and a gain) shone despite a slow start.

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS 19 | 14 | 20 | 17 (70)
GIANTS NETBALL 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 (66)

STARTING SEVENS

Queensland Firebirds

GS: Donnell Wallam
GA: Emily Moore
WA: Lara Dunkley
C: Macy Gardner
WD: Kim Ravaillion
GD: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
GK: Remi Kamo

GIANTS Netball

GS: Jo Harten
GA: Sophie Dwyer
WA: Maddie Hay
C: Jamie-Lee Price
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: April Brandley
GK: Matilda McDonell