Queensland Fires back onto 2023 winners list
THE Queensland Firebirds have picked up their second win of the season with a 73-67 win over the Collingwood Magpies. Many of the problems that have plagued the Magpies over the last few weeks continued as the Firebirds stayed composed to take the win.
Thanks to a strong defensive start, the Firebirds got off to a strong start, scoring a run of five unanswered goals to build an early lead. But the lead did not last long as the Magpies woke up and worked their way back into the game and levelled up proceedings.
It remained tight for the rest of the quarter, with only one Super Shot in the quarter between the two sides. It was so tight that neither side scored in the final minute and were level heading into the first change.
It remained tight and goal for goal for almost the first five minutes of the second term before Collingwood finally scored multiple goals in a row. The Firebirds kept overcooking their paces which meant they were unable to get in front.
It took them almost half the quarter but the Firebirds did manage to convert some defensive turnovers and retake the lead. However, their lead was not going to last long.
After a quiet game up to that point, Sophie Garbin finally made an impact on the game in a big way with a Super Shot. However Donnell Wallam countered right back with a Super Shot of her own off the very next centre pass. It again remained tight for the rest of the quarter, but in the end it was the Magpies who took a narrow two goal lead at the main break.
The Firebirds began the third term slowly creeping their way back into the game and did not take too long to draw back level with the Magpies. Off the back of some great defensive work from Ruby Bakewell-Doran, the Firebirds really got going and started to build a true lead for themselves.
This really turned things around for the Firebirds as they really started to assert dominance on the game. They were able to see out the quarter with the lead as the Magpies could not get a Super Shot to land for the life of them.
Queensland went on to win the quarter by seven, restricting Collingwood to only 12 goals for the term and take a five goal lead into the final break. Nothing went right for the Magpies early in the last term, as the feeds into attack just were not working.
That trend continued throughout the final quarter as not even some Kelly Singleton Super Shot shooting prowess could help her side over the line as the Firebirds’ really caused the Magpies issues.
Wallam (64/65 regular goals, 1/3 Super Shots) again had another stellar game for the Firebirds, while Lara Dunkley (39 feeds, 15 assists) was a workhorse in midcourt.
Meanwhile, Shimona Nelson (56/58 goals) again did not put a foot wrong for the Magpies, but just did not get the support she needed. Kelsey Browne (41 feeds, 28 assists) was a workhorse in midcourt in her milestone match.
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS 15 | 20 | 19 | 19 (73)
COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES 15 | 22 | 12 | 18 (67)
STARTING SEVENS
Queensland Firebirds
GS: Donnell Wallam
GA: Emily Moore
WA: Lara Dunkley
C: Kim Ravaillion
WD: Gabi Simpson
GD: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
GK: Remi Kamo
Collingwood Magpies
GS: Shimona Nelson
GA: Sophie Garbin
WA: Kelsey Browne
C: Molly Jovic
WD: Ash Brazill
GD: Jodi-Ann Ward
GK: Geva Mentor
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