Firebirds beat Swifts to go second
NETBALL: The Queensland Firebirds have soared to second on the Super Netball ladder with a stirring home win over traditional fierce foes NSW Swifts.
When the two teams last met in the opening round, the Swifts fought out a one-point home victory and there were similar never-say-die vibes in the return fixture as the Firebirds prevailed 60-57 in Brisbane yesterday.
Despite the Firebirds taking the first three quarters and accompanying bonus points, NSW were never far behind while not quite able to draw level.
Errors from both sides at key moments piled up in an intense clash but they evened out as the Firebirds led that tally with 26 general play turnovers to 25.
Swifts goal keeper Sarah Klau was important to that end, a disruptive force in the face of one of Super Netball's more exciting attacking pairings.
Firebirds goal shooter Romelda Aiken (43 goals from 49 attempts) and goal attack Gretel Tippett (17 from 18 and 16 assists) turned the ball over 10 times between them, allowing the Swifts to stay in touch.
The Firebirds (5-3) went into the round level on competition points with the Swifts, but the result sent them from outside the top-four into second spot, behind only the West Coast Fever with six rounds remaining.
The Swifts (5-3) fell to sixth after claiming just one point for winning the last quarter.
The Firebirds will look to continue their win streak when they take on Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday.
The Lightning played out a thrilling 53-all draw against the Sydney Swifts on Saturday, Caitlin Bassett scoring as the buzzer sounded to draw level.
In Saturday’s other game, West Coast Fever protected their top ranking with an emphatic 76-56 trouncing of the Adelaide Thunderbirds while the Melbourne Vixens downed the Collingwood Magpies yesterday.
With Mwai Kumwenda netting all but one of her 43 attempts, the Vixens took the match 65-57. – AAP