By Rosie Gale
The Queensland Firebirds have clinched their first win of the season in a thrilling encounter against GIANTS Netball, coming out on top with a final score of 70-66.
With outstanding performances from Donnell Wallam and Ruby Bakewell-Doran, the Firebirds' fierce defensive pressure and unstoppable attack proved too much for the GIANTS to handle.
The Firebirds burst out of the gates in the first quarter, with Donnell Wallam leading the charge.
Despite Sophie Dwyer and Jo Harten looking confident early, a contact against Jamie-Lee Price and an intercept from Ruby Bakewell-Doran swung momentum in favour of the Firebirds.
Even a tactical time-out from GIANTS coach Julie Fitzgerald couldn't halt the Firebirds' full-court defensive pressure.
The Power Five saw the GIANTS miss five Super Shots between them, with Bakewell-Doran and Remi Kamo causing havoc in the circle.
Emily Moore kickstarted the run with a spectacular Super Shot, but the dynamic duo of Dwyer and Harten had other plans, responding with consecutive Super Shots of their own to narrow the deficit to a mere three points.
April Brandley came out firing with a crucial intercept, halting the Firebird’s momentum but at the end of the first quarter, the home side held a four-goal lead, with Wallam maintaining her 100 per cent shooting record.
In the second term, Kamo continued to excel in confusing the space and restricting Harten in attack, and a reshuffle to the Firebirds mid-court lineup saw Gabi Simpson come on in WD.
Wallam sank the first Super Shot of the quarter, but a couple of wayward balls from the Firebirds gave the GIANTS opportunity to claw their way back.
In a moment of overextension, Harten reached for the ball and awkwardly landed on her left knee. With just six minutes remaining, she left the court, replaced by Matisse Letherbarrow as the Giants' new goal shooter.
Despite the reshuffle, the Firebirds kept their composure, with Kamo coming through with a ripper intercept and Moore sinking a penalty goal on the buzzer to level the scores out to 33 goals apiece at the end of the first half.
The Firebirds continued their dogged performance in the third quarter, with Mia Stower injected into the game with fresh legs and making an impact in GA.
Simpson's stellar defensive effort on Maddie Hay allowed Bakewell-Doran to secure a turnover, leading to a flurry of goals and a five-goal lead in just five minutes.
The GIANTS struggled to break through the Firebirds' solid defensive wall on the first phase, looking slow off the mark. The Firebirds' circle defence was once again top-notch, forcing the GIANTS to play cross-court balls.
Fitzgerald brought on Lauren Moore in GK for Matilda McDonell and called for a tactical time-out to try and disrupt the home team's momentum. While Brandley and Moore were able to secure a defensive turnover, the GIANTS couldn't convert.
Sophie Dwyer scored a Super Shot at the Power Five, but despite another opportunity to close the gap, a crucial intercept from Stower and a Super Shot from Wallam helped the Firebirds extend their lead to seven. Dwyer's two consecutive Super Shots on the back of a Firebirds penalty brought the GIANTS back to within three.
The Firebird's gain-to-goal rate sat at an impressive 73%, showcasing their relentless attack.
In the final quarter, the Firebird’s defensive pressure continued to cause headaches for the GIANTS, but both teams struggled to convert turnovers into points during clutch moments.
The GIANTS looked flustered early on, but stepped up their full-court pressure to rattle the Firebirds and slow their attack. However, the sustained pressure from Bakewell-Doran finally proved too much for Dwyer's shooting accuracy.
With just over five minutes to go, Moore secured a turnover, but once again they couldn't convert. However, Wallam gained a crucial intercept on the transverse line and ended in a trademark layup, shifting momentum forward again for the team in purple with just four minutes to go.
Dwyer responded with a Super Shot, bringing the deficit back to three, but Letherbarrow and Wallam both scored Super Shots of their own, bringing the difference down to just two with one minute to go. Letherbarrow missed a crucial Super Shot, but Kamo secured a vital intercept, and Wallam scored to seal the win.
To put the cherry on top, Wallam scored a Supershot with 20 seconds to go, leaving Dwyer's late Super Shot too little, too late.
Wallam was the hero of the match, leading the Firebirds to their first win of the season with a final score of 70-66.
