The Queensland Firebirds have come agonisingly close to their second consecutive win of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season, falling to GIANTS Netball by just one goal in their Round 7 clash.
A last second matchwinner from Australian Diamonds Captain Caitlin Bassett was all that separated the two sides at Nissan Arena.
Firebirds Head Coach Roselee Jencke OAM said there were plenty of positives to take from the team’s performance despite the result.
“It’s really disappointing not to get over the line when there was such promising play tonight,” Jencke said.
“We had genuine impact from our bench from all the players that came on and we certainly didn’t lose anything, so it was pleasing to see them hold their own.”
“It was a really grinding game tonight, an absolute arm wrestle, which is what you expect every time you face GIANTS.”
It was a fast paced start from both sides with the feeling in the contest clear from the opening centre pass, as the Firebirds skipped to a 4 goal lead at quarter time off the back of 6 turnovers in the first term.
Firebirds defender Kim Jenner added to her growing tally of intercepts early in the second quarter as the Queensland side’s lead extended to 5, before the GIANTS drained the last three goals of the half, including two super shots, to level the scores at the main break.
The midcourt battle between Firebird Mahalia Cassidy and Jamie-Lee Price took centre stage in the first half, with Cassidy turning in a typically bullish performance to finish the game with 12 assists and 25 feeds.
Momentum swung frequently throughout the third term, before an injection of energy from the Firebirds bench courtesy of Macy Gardner and Lara Dunkley delivered a two goal advantage for the Queensland side at the final break.
The GIANTS signalled their intent with the first three goals of the fourth quarter to retake the lead and halt the Firebirds momentum, before threatening to take the game away from the Queensland side with a run of 6 quickfire scores midway through the final term.
Firebirds Shooter Romelda Aiken (43/49) almost stole the game from the Giants' grasp with a pair of two-point super shots inside the final minute, before Bassett’s goal on the siren delivered victory for her side.
Aiken’s shooting partner Tippah Dwan again delivered a performance far beyond her years, with her movement and accuracy a standout despite the loss.
Dwan's 14 goals and 24 feeds was another example of her exciting potential.
The Firebirds will now prepare for Sunday's game against the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Nissan Arena, with the Round 8 clash to be the first meeting between the two teams in the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season.
