Townsville Bulletin

Phoenix fired up for top- of- table test

- KEAGAN ELDER

PHOENIX have continued to put competitio­n frontrunne­rs under pressure by winning three games on the trot.

This streak will be tested next week when Phoenix meets top of the table Saints.

“They are ( top) but we certainly don’t put any team on that pedestal,” Phoenix coach Rebecca Bulloch said.

On Monday Phoenix firmed up a spot in the top four after they defeated Mari- an- Vixens 55- 41, backing up wins against Runaways ( 59- 36) and last season’s champions Neptunes ( 42- 38).

Bulloch said her experience­d line- up took control when needed despite Marian- Vixens closing the gap before the end of the first half.

“We knew ( Marian- Vixens) would be really full of confidence after their big ( 45- 33) win against Burdekin,” Bulloch said.

Marian- Vixens had Phoenix on the ropes in the second quarter, with Bul- loch blaming a drop of intensity. But Phoenix showed solid cohesion after a change in defence brought the game back under control.

Bulloch said this had proven a winning trend for Phoenix this season.

“This season we seem to be close by halftime and then pull away,” she said.

“We know we’ll be up there at the end ( of the season).”

In this week’s other games Highlander­s thrashed Runaways 70- 27 and Burdekin trumped Saints 51- 39.

 ?? WINNING TREND: Phoenix goal attack Kimi Daniel- Brown in action against Marian Vixens Picture: ALIX SWEENEY ??
WINNING TREND: Phoenix goal attack Kimi Daniel- Brown in action against Marian Vixens Picture: ALIX SWEENEY

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