Both teams were in desperate need of a win to hoist themselves clear of the bottom of the ladder, but they couldn’t be separated after 60 minutes of netball, with an Abigail Latu-Meafou goal in the dying seconds sealing a 62-62 result.
The result sees the Firebirds still winless and in eighth position after six games, with only 11 premiership points to their name, while 2018 grand finalist the Fever are in sixth place on 14 points.
The Firebirds’ mobile goaling combination of Gretel Tippett and goal shooter Latu-Meafou set about creating all sorts of problems for Fever defenders Courtney Bruce and Stacey Francis early in the game.
The Queensland pair sliced through the Fever defence in the first quarter, helping establish a 17-14 lead at quarter-time.
Meanwhile at the other end Kaylia Stanton’s shot started cold after her standout performance in Round 5, missing both of her attempts in the opening term.
Gabi Simpson was clearly out to make a statement after being overlooked for Diamonds selection, with the first of her six defensive gains coming early in the second term and setting up a three-goal run for her team that saw them skip out to a five-goal advantage.
In what would be a recurring theme throughout the match, the Fever hit back quickly, pegging the margin back to three before Verity Charles put a scare through her camp by tweaking her ankle. She returned after a timeout and the teams continued trading goals, with Jhaniele Fowler potting a goal on the half-time whistle to restore the three-goal gap and see neither side able to snare the bonus point.
The Fever looked a different team in the third term, scoring nine of the first 14 goals of the quarter to erase the deficit and take a one-goal lead, which remained the margin at the final break.
In a seesawing final quarter both teams held the lead at different stages. Fowler scored three of the first four goals to give Fever a three-goal edge less than two minutes in, before a Firebirds surge saw them score five in a row.
The momentum swayed back in West Coast’s favour with two goals to Fowler and another to Stanton, but when Tippett nailed two in a row with six minutes remaining, Queensland’s lead was again out to two.
Fever captain Bruce was clearly struggling with her injured arm, cradling it and wincing throughout the final quarter, but bravely soldiered on and returned three deflections and a gain with the game in the balance.
The Fever looked the goods again and were finding Fowler with ease, while at the other end Tippett and Latu-Meafou were being battered but continuing to score.
The teams went goal for goal in the final minutes, and with less than 30 seconds to go the Fever led by one. But the Firebirds were able to cleverly eat up crucial seconds with the ball in hand, leaving Latu-Meafou five seconds to net the equalising shot.
Score breakdown
Q1: Firebirds 17 v Fever 14
Q2: Firebirds 16 v Fever 16
Q3: Firebirds 13 v Fever 17
Q4: Firebirds 16 v Fever 15
Suncorp Super Netball Premiership Points
Firebirds – 4
Fever – 3
Nissan Player of The Match – Gretel Tippett (Firebirds)
Firebirds shooting statistics – 62/68 (91.2%)
Abigail Latu-Meafou – 27/32 (84%)
Gretel Tippett – 35/36 (97%)
Fever shooting statistics – 62/71 (87%)
Jhaniele Fowler – 55/60 (92%)
Kaylia Stanton – 7/11 (64%)
Firebirds starting seven: GS – Abigail Latu-Meafou, GA – Gretel Tippett, WA – Caitlyn Nevins, C – Jemma Mi Mi, WD – Gabi Simpson, GD – Tara Hinchliffe, GK – Laura Clemesha
Fever starting seven: GS – Jhaniele Fowler, GA – Kaylia Stanton, WA – Ingrid Colyer, C – Verity Charles, WD – Jess Anstiss, GD – Stacey Francis, GK – Courtney Bruce
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