QUEENSLAND Firebirds finally had the game they have been waiting for this season, running home in the final quarter to defeat the West Coast Fever by six goals (68-62). Fever were missing captain Courtney Bruce allowing the Firebirds to take full advantage of their understrength defensive unit to claim their first victory of the season – and their first in over a year. Meanwhile, this victory means the Fever are still yet to beat the Firebirds since the inception of Suncorp Super Netball.

It was an even start, with neither team able to take control but also struggling to find easy avenues into the goal circle with plenty of opportunities to feed in but ball placement not allowing the goalers to go to post. Lenize Potgieter started in goal shooter for the Firebirds with Gretel Tippett, switching up the typical circle gameplay of the Queensland side in recent weeks. Potgieter was held well early by young gun Olivia Lewis, who racked up two gains credit to her elevation and hands over pressure on Potgieter’s low-release shot. But while the Firebirds were held well early in the quarter, a big change in the opening minutes saw Romelda Aiken take the court in goal keeper to line up on her Jamaican teammate, Jhaniele Fowler. Aiken’s height gave her the advantage the side was missing, picking up a valuable rebound to send the ball back up the court and spur her side into action in attack. The second quarter saw Fever wrestle back some control, gaining some important ground and narrowing the margin heading into half time down by only three goals. Fowler continued to rule the roost in goal shooter, shooting 15 goals helping her side claim their first bonus point of the game. Meanwhile Potgieter and Tippett shared the load at the other end shooting at 100 per cent for the quarter with 14 goals. Although Fowler still gained plenty of ball, Aiken’s stature in goal keeper went a long way in confusing the Fever feeders and forcing them to think before passing into the circle.

Both sides made a smattering of changes in the third term, unafraid to shake things up. Aiken returned to her regular starting position in goal shooter, teaming up with Tippett for another accurate quarter, while Fowler found plenty of ball in the circle against Tara Hinchliffe in goal keeper but to no avail, uncharacteristically missing three goals for the term. While Fever still won the third quarter, the Firebirds kept their nose in front up by two goals at the final change, giving the side something to drive with in the final term in the hope of getting their first 2019 win on the board. The final term saw the Firebirds well and truly put on the accelerator, shooting 20 goals to 16 to run away with the six goal victory. Gabi Simpson seemed to switch on in the second half, providing a massive threat through the midcourt and shutting down both Ingrid Colyer and Verity Charles in turn – limiting Colyer to only 11 assists from almost three quarters in wing attack. Fever were well and truly disheartened in the final term while Firebirds seemed to be brimming with confidence, seeing both Tippett and Aiken taking shots from distance safe in the knowledge that Simpson would lead from defence and find a way to turn the ball back over.

Caitlyn Nevins was back to her usual form ahead of retirement in the coming weeks, finishing with 23 assists from 38 feeds and 36 centre pass receives, finding good space around the circle and firing on all cylinders in the final quarter. Tippett finished yet another game at 100 per cent accuracy, shooting 30 goals and aided by both Potgieter (19 from 21) and Aiken (19 from 22) who in turn provided valuable yet different options at the post to keep the home side on their toes. For Fever, Fowler was prolific with 58 goals from 65 attempts at 89 per cent, while Alice Teague-Neeld only put four goals on the board from seven attempts but collected 22 goal assists and 18 centre pass receives. While it certainly was not the cleanest victory they could hope for, the Firebirds got away with their first win for the season along with six ladder points that may not elevate them off the bottom of the ladder but certainly put a spark back into an ultimately lacklustre season.

STARTING SEVEN

West Coast Fever
GS | Jhaniele Fowler
GA | Alice Teague-Neeld
WA | Ingrid Colyer
C | Verity Charles
WD | Jess Anstiss
GD | Stacey Francis
GK | Olivia Lewis

Queensland Firebirds
GS | Lenize Potgieter
GA | Gretel Tippett
WA | Caitlyn Nevins
C | Jemma Mi Mi
WD | Gabi Simpson
GD | Kim Jenner
GK | Tara Hinchliffe