Firebirds melt Steel as defence ramps up

WINNING no longer satisfies the Queensland Firebirds.

The ANZ Championship favourites want to harass and confuse their opponents with relentless defence as they head into this weekend’s Australian Conference final powered by a 10-game winning streak.

How else could you explain yesterday’s 66-50 disposal of Southern Steel in a dead rubber that had no bearing on the Trans Tasman Netball League finals?

Defenders Laura Geitz, Gabi Simpson and player of the match Clare McMeniman squeezed the life out of the Steel in the warm-up for Sunday’s clash against either West Coast Fever or New South Wales Swifts at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

The Firebirds boast an average winning margin of 16 goals from their past four outings, and still the players were dissatisfied they could not achieve their target of keeping the Invercargill-based Steel under 50 goals for the match.

“That’s the driving force behind our performance, trying to put teams away,” Firebirds captain Geitz said.

“In previous years we would have been beside ourselves with a 16-goal win.

“This team wants to see how good we could be. We’re trying to make it so hard for our opposition to convert any ball. That’s what we pride ourselves on.”

In another fine performance, goal shooter Romelda Aiken shot 48 goals at 81 per cent accuracy. But the scene for victory was set by their length of court defence.

Centre Kim Ravaillion prides herself on the pressure she applies through the midcourt and even goal attack Gretel Tippett was in on the act.

Coach Roselee Jencke wanted to see her defenders play like lions, charging at their prey rather than wait for them to take the initiative.

The 2011 champions lost just once, in the opening round, and will have the advantage of staying at home throughout the trans Tasman competition finals.