IT was a tale of two halves with the Queensland Firebirds owning the first half before the Melbourne Vixens flexed their muscles in the third and fourth quarter to run home with an 11-goal victory, 71-60. The unpredictable nature of the Firebirds caught Melbourne off guard early with Queensland showcasing their potential if they play a full four quarters.

With a relatively new look side the Firebirds had a point to prove and came out firing with their strong connections and clever game play on full display. Once again Gretel Tippett led the way in attack with her commanding presence and attacking flair scoring seven goals from eight attempts at 88 per cent and feeding the ball well into new shooting partner Lenize Potgieter with six goal assists. The South African shooter showed her talent and ability to score quickly and easily piling on 11 goals while Indigenous centre, Jemma Mi Mi set the tone early with ball in hand. Mi Mi found good space and used her speed to exploit Kate Moloney on the drive at times to deliver the ball into the circle. For the Vixens, goal shooter Caitlin Thwaites was on fire nailing goal after goal at 100 per cent with 13 for the opening term. Tegan Philip also made her presence felt on the scoreboard with four straight while she did a truckload of work to feed the ball into Thwaites.

After claiming the first bonus point of the game the Firebirds were up and about with captain Gabi Simspon leading the troops. Though she did not feature highly in the stats she picked up plenty of ball with one deflection, two gains and one intercept while blocking Liz Watson at every opportunity. She forced her wide, limited her vision into the goal circle and worked overtime showcasing her endurance and clever footwork to stop Watson from getting to circle edge with the wing attack only amassing five goal assists in the second term. With Watson struggling Moloney upped the ante in attack to hit the circle edge and deliver into the goal circle. Defensively the Firebirds as a unit lifted their intensity with young guns Kim Jenner and Tara Hinchliffe displaying their attacking prowess and hunt for the ball. Jenner showcased her impeccable timing with two gains, two intercepts and two deflections while Hinchliffe was not afraid to go out hunting with two deflections and one intercept. Shooting accuracy for the Firebirds proved to be no issue with both Potgieter and Tippett sitting at 100 per cent.

The Melbourne Vixens well and truly kicked into gear in the third quarter with the defence end increasing their pressure and intent. Emily Mannix came into her own with the goal keeper reading the cross-court ball time and time again and making the Firebirds pay for it. Her quick footwork and ability to stay away from the whistle enabled her to win ball back for her side and propel them into attack picking up five gains, three intercepts and two rebounds. Partner in crime Jo Weston also asserted herself on the match going toe to toe with Tippett with two crucial pick-ups, an intercept and one gain. Renae Ingles drive through the middle of the court provided a constant back-up option on the transverse line. Ingles utilised her hands over pressure and quick footwork enabled her to get hands to ball with two pick-ups and an intercept. Though Thwaites struggled to find space under the post, Philip picked up the slack with 12 goals from her 15 attempts and controlling the goal circle. With the Vixens applying plenty of defensive pressure the Firebirds threw the bibs around in the midcourt with Mi Mi moving into wing attack and SPAR Protea Erin Burger making her way into centre. But it was not enough to stop the Vixens who had found their groove both in attack and defence piling on 19 goals to nine to claim a seven goal lead.

Down at three quarter time the Queensland Firebirds had no answers for the experience and class of the Vixens who overran them. As they struggled with fluidity in attack Caitlyn Nevins re-appeared using her dynamic movement in the attacking third to feed the ball effortlessly in to Tippett and Potgieter with nine goal assists. She also did a wealth of work at the centre pass with 11 receives allowing Tippett to focus on her second play work. In the end the Vixens exploited the Firebirds inexperienced defensive duo with Thwaites and Philip proving too dominant. Thwaites finished with 43 from 47 at 91 per cent while Philip nailed 28 from 33. For the Firebirds accuracy was no issue it was just volume with Tippett sitting at 94 per cent with 29 from 31 and Potgieter 31 from 34 at 91 per cent. There is plenty of hope for the Firebirds but the connections will take time to entirely form but their first half put teams on notice.

STARTING LINE-UPS:

Queensland Firebirds:

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

Melbourne Vixens:

GS | Caitlin Thwaites
GA | Tegan Philip
WA | Liz Watson
C | Kate Moloney
WD | Renae Ingles
GD | Jo Weston
GK | Emily Mannix