The Thunderbirds showed enormous improvement against NSW Swifts last round, claiming two bonus points and almost stealing the match. They were bolstered this round by the return of promising South Australian talent Charlee Hodges who missed that match through concussion.
The bye round did little to dull the Thunderbirds enthusiasm, the rebuilt roster coming out with the same intensity that tested the Swifts in Round 6.
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Thunderbirds
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MATCH-UP
The Numbers
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Firebirds
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25
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Mins. in Possession
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33
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6
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Gain
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11
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1
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Intercepts
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5
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11
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Deflections
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10
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85
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Goal Shooting %
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80
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Queensland was tested in the first half but broke the shackles in the second, Nissan MVP Gretel Tippett and goal shooter Romelda Aiken combining smoothly to put away the Adelaide threat.
The combination of Aiken and Tippett opened up a 6-3 lead, but Adelaide kept in the contest through quality ball to Shimona Nelson and Hodges.
With five minutes remaining in the quarter, the Thunderbirds locked the score up at 9-9 to let the Firebirds know there would be no easy competition points on offer at Priceline Stadium.
Minutes later, Nelson scored the go-ahead goal and Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke called her charges to the sideline to remind them to keep cool heads.
The timeout worked, with the Firebirds overturning a two-goal deficit to claim a 15-12 quarter time lead and the first bonus point of the match.
It was an arm-wrestle and Adelaide continued to fight hard and frustrate the Firebirds at times, but the Queenslanders worked their way further ahead – extending the lead to six goals with five minutes to play in the second quarter.
That was pushed out to eight goals at halftime as Tippett added some flair late, giving the Thunderbirds plenty to do in the second half. But coach Dan Ryan resisted the urge to ring changes, persisting with his roster that was testing the Firebirds in patches.
Those patches grew further and further apart as the Firebirds flexed their collective muscle, putting on a massive 17-10 quarter to take full control of the match.
That extended into the final quarter as Queensland secured all four bonus points and their second road win of the season.
Q1: Thunderbirds 12 v Firebirds 15
Q2: Thunderbirds 11 v Firebirds 16
Q3: Thunderbirds 10 v Firebirds 17
Q4: Thunderbirds 9 v Firebirds 18
Suncorp Super Netball premiership points
Firebirds 8
Thunderbirds 0
Thunderbirds shooting statistics
Shimona Nelson 23/25
Charlee Hodges 14/19
Abigail Latu-Meafou 5/5
Firebirds shooting statistics
Romelda Aiken 46/61
Gretel Tippett 20/21
Thunderbirds starting seven
GS: Shimona Nelson, GA: Charlee Hodges, WA: Chelsea Pitman, C: Kaitlyn Bryce, WD: Fiona Fowler, GD: Leana de Bruin, GK: Kate Shimmin
Firebirds starting seven
GS: Romelda Aiken, GA: Gretel Tippett, WA: Caitlyn Nevins, C: Mahalia Cassidy, WD: Gabi Simpson, GD: Tara Hinchliffe, GK: Laura Geitz
Nissan MVP: Gretel Tippett
