It was a physical game from start to finish which suited the play-style of the GIANTS perfectly, who controlled the pace of the contest and came away from Brisbane with all 8-premiership points.
Both teams came out playing tentative netball early, resulting in turnovers a plenty and some ugly play going into the attacking circles.
It also created a tough and tight game on the court. Sam Poolman and Kristiana Manu’a had a physical mindset against Romelda Aiken and the red-hot Gretel Tippett and both team’s midcourts threw themselves at every contest.
The GIANTS burst out of the quarter time huddle and got to work extending their 1-goal lead, upping their ball movement speed and tightening up their passing, thanks in large part to eventual Nissan Player of the Match Kim Green.
GIANTS shooter Caitlin Bassett really started to assert herself on the contest in the second, dropping 23 of her eventual 50 goals before the half time break.
The GIANTS threatened to break the game open midway through the second quarter, but a late run by the Firebirds brought the margin back to just 5-goals at the half-time break.
It was a tightly contested third quarter as both teams went goal-for-goal for much of the term. But the GIANTS were able to steady late, thanks to some rock-solid defence through the centre by Jamie-Lee Price and Amy Parmenter and take a 52 to 45-goal lead into the final quarter.
The Firebirds were desperate to take something out of the game and came out hunting a bonus point. Despite another spectacular performance from Tippett, who finished with 41 goals from 41 shots, the Firebirds just couldn’t slow down the GIANTS, who’s new look line-up grows stronger and stronger every game they play.
The Firebirds will be desperate to get win number one of the 2019 season in Adelaide next Sunday afternoon while the GIANTS will have the monumental task of taking on the seemingly unstoppable Sunshine Coast Lightning at USC Stadium on Saturday night.
Score breakdown
Q1: Firebirds 14 v GIANTS 15
Q2: Firebirds 14 v GIANTS 18
Q3: Firebirds 17 v GIANTS 19
Q4: Firebirds 16 v GIANTS 17
Suncorp Super Netball Premiership Points
Firebirds – 0
GIANTS – 8
Nissan Player of the Match – Kim Green
Firebirds shooting statistics
Romelda Aiken – 20/28 (71.4%)
Gretel Tippett – 41/41 (100%)
GIANTS shooting statistics
Caitlin Bassett – 50/57 (87.7%)
Jo Harten – 12/20 (60%)
Kiera Austin – 7/9 (77.8%)
Firebirds starting seven:
GS – Romelda Aiken, GA – Gretel Tippett, WA – Jemma Mi Mi, C – Mahalia Cassidy, WD – Gabi Simpson, GD – Tara Hinchliffe, GK – Laura Clemesha
GIANTS starting seven:
GS – Caitlin Bassett, GA – Jo Harten, WA – Kim Green, C – Jamie-Lee Price, WD – Amy Parmenter, GD – Kristiana Manu’a, GK – Sam Poolman
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