A gallant Queensland Firebirds side met the competition’s toughest assignment in Round 5 of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season, with the NSW Swifts showing form worthy of their reigning Premiers tag.
The Firebirds dominated periods of the State of Origin clash but had the game ripped away by the Swifts’ International goal attack Helen Housby, who finished the game with 17 goals, including five from super shot range.
Despite a winless start to the season the Firebirds’ faith in their next generation of stars including Macy Gardner Mahalia Cassidy, and Tippah Dwan is beginning to reap rewards, with the trio showing more confidence with each game.
Queensland Captain Gabi Simpson said the physical Swifts side presented another valuable learning opportunity for her team.
“I think all throughout the centre court there were really strong battles going on,” Simpson said.
“They are an international midcourt and we wanted to rise to that challenge tonight which I think we did.”
“The energy injected into the game from our bench made a big difference and it’s really pleasing to see our young players step up in that environment and take their opportunity.”
The hosts should have had more to show for their efforts than a four-goal deficit midway through the second quarter.
Defenders Kim Jenner and Tara Hinchliffe had reaped five gains from their pressure on the Swifts and Cassidy was the dominant figure in the midcourt.
Simpson said the belief in the defensive unit continued to build each time they took the court.
“Kim and Tara are becoming increasingly dynamic and their combination is probably their biggest strength so its been really cool to see that develop.”
“As a whole defensive unit, we are growing with every game and the time we forced them to take to get to goal tonight was really impressive.”
The Swifts led by eight goals early in the third quarter before a home team resurgence, led by Simpson and Gardner, forced the Swifts into a string of substitutions as the scores drew level.
The Firebirds’ were unable to capitalise on their momentum though, and despite successive Super Shots from Ine-Mari Venter in the closing minutes of the game, could only finish within 7 goals of the defending Premiers.
Queensland next face West Coast Fever in Round 6 of the condensed Suncorp Super Netball season, with Saturday’s clash technically an away game for the Firebirds despite being played at Nissan Arena.
