Temepara George. Photo / Getty Images
The Mystics have come a long way this season but on yesterday's evidence still have work to do to compete with the top Australian sides.
In an extremely physical contest, the Firebirds accelerated away after a tight first half to eventually record a comfortable victory. The Queensland side extended their
record-winning streak to seven, while the Mystics now have a four win-three loss record.
After giving up an eight-goal lead against the Thunderbirds last week, the lapse at the beginning of the third quarter will be of greatest concern to Mystics coach Debbie Fuller. The home side looked flat after halftime as the Firebirds extended their lead from two to eight in the blink of an eye.
Away teams have struggled with umpires in the last few rounds but the Firebirds were penalised just 59 times yesterday while the Mystics were called on 73 occasions.
For the home side, Anna Scarlett and Maria Tutaia were standouts, while Temepara George showed no ill effects of the flu she had during the week.
Romelda Aiken was dominant, managing 38 goals from 42 attempts, despite the home side often attempting to double-team the 1.96m Jamaican. Cathrine Latu shot her fourth career 100 per cent game, but was restricted to just 19 shots by the Firebirds. Tutaia was forced to take the lead but her 33 from 38 was never going to be enough.
Scarlett was involved in some heavy collisions - at one point looking like she was ready to throw a left hook after one shove from behind - while Latu and Laura Geitz enjoyed their own ding-dong battle. Both players resembled dodgem cars, such was the shunting.
Rachel Rasmussen tried to rattle Aiken physically, while Geitz was a fraction away from catching George ( accidentally) with a knee to the head.
After trailing 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, the home side took the lead 18-17 briefly midway through the second, but the Firebirds had retained the initiative 28-26 by halftime. The Firebirds led 44-39 at the end of the third quarter and played solid netball.
Mystics 61 (M. Tutaia 33/38, C. Latu 19/19) Firebirds 52 (R. Aiken 38/42, N. Medhurst 23/27). Halftime: 28-26.
