GIANTS Netball not only secured the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) win, but so too top spot on the ladder as they defeated Queensland Firebirds yesterday afternoon (67-60). The win marks the GIANTS third straight, and while the Firebirds contested hard for patches, they were no match for the home side, who were nothing short of impressive.

It was a scrappy start to the game for the Firebirds as their speed down the court caught themselves off-guard with a couple of errant passes marring the first minutes of the quarter. Gabi Simpson came out with some real heat and intensity bursting out at the centre pass to create a turnover while youngster Sophie Dwyer showed her hand defensively to get a deflection for the GIANTS. After a frenetic start to the game both sides settled into the match with Jo Harten the lynchpin in attack for the GIANTS and Gretel Bueta proving to be the number one playmaker for the visitors. Not only was Bueta impressing out the front but so too doing the heavy lifting inside the goal circle with her acrobatics on full show as the Firebirds snuck out to a two-goal lead.

With the power five in full swing, it was Bueta that landed the first blow as she nailed a super shot to re-establish the lead after the GIANTS drew level. Inaccuracy seemed to be a real issue for the GIANTS as Harten uncharacteristically missed two goals in a row allowing the Firebirds to build some momentum. Queensland took full advantage of the rolling subs as Romelda Aiken moved to the bench and Tippah Dwan entered the game to create a spark in attack. There was no easy passage of play for either side with the defensive pressure palpable and April Brandley making a nuisance of herself picking up a handy intercept before Simpson replied with a screamer intercept of her own.

All tied up at quarter time, both sides looked to tidy things up in the second quarter. There was speed to burn through the midcourt with Jemma Mi Mi getting down to business for the Firebirds and Jamie-Lee Price using her vision to sight Harten with great ease under the post. After sitting on 14 goals apiece the GIANTS raced out to a handy two goal lead with their patient approach into the circle paying dividends. Dwyer continued to impress out in goal attack, releasing the ball with precision and driving hard to draw the attention of both Kim Jenner and Tara Hinchliffe. Momentum did not favour either side as the two engaged in an enthralling battle but it was the GIANTS that once again pulled ahead thanks to some impressive defensive work from Price.

The tried and tested combinations of Kim Ravaillion and Bueta was on full display as the two released ball with confidence in attack to slice up the GIANTS defence. Brandley petered off a tad while Sam Poolman pushed to the bench allowing youngster Matilda McDonnell to deal with Aiken who re-entered the match. Harten started to come to life with her fancy footwork along the goal-line causing all sorts of headaches. With the lead skipping out to three goals, the Firebirds rung in the changes with Lara Dunkley re-entering the contest and Bueta swinging into her preferred position of goal attack. Despite all the party tricks from the Queensland front-end the class of Harten rung true as the goal shooter seemed to have the ball on a string and everything started to go the GIANTS way as they established a seven point lead at the main change.

Youngster Amy Sligar got the nod at wing attack for the GIANTS while Rudi Ellis pulled on the goal keeper bib for the Firebirds but that change did not seem to disrupt the home side. Ravaillion and Aiken were putting on a show in the Firebirds front half as Queensland brought the scoreline back to four goals. The move of Sligar into wing attack was short lived as Maddie Hay re-entered the match, using her strong drives and attacking nous to full effect. There was a sea of purple in defence as Queensland set up strongly to force the GIANTS to work the ball around and cut off the fluidity they had in the opening half.

With a timeout called by the GIANTS, they used it as a chance to re-group while the Firebirds continued to tinker with their line-up as Jenner and Dwan came back on. Amy Parmenter was a real workhorse through the centre for the GIANTS, taking just about every second pass and applying some strong hands over pressure to make life hard for her opposition. The GIANTS’ ability to convert from turnovers was impressive while conversely the Firebirds struggled to capitalise in super shot territory as it got out to a 12 goal difference.

With it all to play for in the final quarter, Aiken made the GIANTS pay, but the team in orange could not be denied. Things got willing in defence for both sides as they worked in overdrive. Although the Firebirds were down by as much as 13 goals midway through the term, their grit and determination came to the fore as they reduced the deficit to seven. But credit where credit is due, the GIANTS were simply too strong in all facets of the game.

Harten was in scintillating form sinking 44 goals from 53 attempts at 83 per cent accuracy, while third gamer Dwyer was unstoppable piling on 19 goals and racking up 14 goal assists. Price proved to have a hot hand on the feed finishing with 20 goal assists to her name while defensively Brandley had one of her best games to date post pregnancy amassing three intercepts and five deflections. Looking at the Firebirds and it was Aiken that led the way with 23 goals at 79 per cent with Bueta hot on her heels with 21 goals. Ravaillion was impressive through the midcourt accumulating 16 goal assists as Simpson starred with two intercepts and three deflections.

GIANTS NETBALL 14 | 23 | 17 | 13 (67)
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS 14 | 16 | 11 | 19 (60)

STARTING SEVEN:

GIANTS: 

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

Firebirds:

GS: Romelda Aiken
GA: Gretel Bueta
WA: Lara Dunkley
C: Kim Ravaillion
WD: Gabi Simpson
GD: Kim Jenner
GK: Tara Hinchliffe