Firebirds scorch the Vixens in honour of absent skipper

THE Queensland Firebirds made a big statement with an 11-goal trans-Tasman netball league victory over Melbourne Vixens then dedicated the triumph to absent captain Laura Geitz, whose father has died.

Both teams went into yesterday’s match with 6-1 records but the Firebirds had powerful extra motivation as they won 57-46 to inflict the Vixens’ first loss on their Hisense Arena home court this season.

Goal attack Natalie Medhurst (21 goals from 26 attempts) and goalshooter Romelda Aiken (36 from 41) were unstoppable, stretching tough Vixens’ defenders Geva Mentor and Bianca Chatfield all match.

Also yesterday, the Adelaide Thunderbirds defeated the NSW Swifts by two goals after chasing the visitors’ tail for much of the match.

The Swifts challenged the Thunderbirds and led at every change in a close game at Netball SA stadium, but Adelaide showed enough composure to seal the match 50-48.

The Swifts suffocated their rivals in the first term, with high mid- court pressure through centre Kimberlee Green and wing attack Vanessa Ware.

Goal attack Carla Dziwoki shot all of NSW’s six attempts at goal, giving the visitors an unexpected one-point lead at quarter time.

But the Thunderbirds were quick off the blocks in the second term and their defensive pressure heightened.

The West Coast Fever has snapped a three-match losing run and maintained its transTasman netball league play-off hopes with a 64-55 win over the lowly Tactix.