Netball: Mystics succumb to rampant Firebirds

Firebirds celebrate winning the ANZ Championship Final match between the Firebirds and the Mystics. Photo / Getty Images

Queensland Firebirds 57
Northern Mystics 44

Another transtasman league season. Another Australian winner crowned.

The Queensland Firebirds tonight became the fourth Australian team to etch their name on the ANZ Championship trophy, after over-running a ragged Northern Mystics side in Brisbane.

Unbeaten this season, the Firebirds have eclipsed the three teams that went before them - the NSW Swifts, Melbourne Vixens and Adelaide Thunderbirds.

The 13-goal scoreline was the most comprehensive grand final result yet. However, for all but a dreadful third quarter from the Mystics, it was a tightly contested game.

The Firebirds held a narrow 26-24 halftime lead after a competitive opening 30 minutes, the Mystics twice gaining the ascendancy.

But the home side seized the initiative in the third quarter, pouncing on a series of tactical blunders from the Mystics to effectively close out the game in the space of five minutes.

It all went awry for the Mystics when they tinkered with the defence in order to give defender Kayla Cullen, who has been suffering from cramp late in matches, a brief rest.

That forced Anna Scarlett to goal defence, with the 1.83m Rachel Rasmussen on at goal keep to mark 1.96m Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken. With the height advantage, the Firebirds attack opened up, the midcourters more confident in firing the ball to Aiken, later named player of the match.

The Mystics made two more changes to their defence line before reverting back to their starting line-up. But in the disarray the Firebirds went on a blistering 18-8 scoring run to take an unassailable 44-32 lead.

Mystics captain Temepara George was bitterly disappointed her side let it all unravel.

"We were right there apart from maybe five [minutes] in the third quarter," she said. "Anyone who hasn't seen the game and looks at the score will say 'oh my God they got a thrashing'. And that's the gutting thing - it was so close for much of the game but the score didn't reflect that."

The second-half flop was a disappointing end to a breakthrough season for the Mystics, who played their best netball in four years to make the playoffs for the first time.

But they ran head first into a big maroon wall tonight.

The well-structured Firebirds attack had an answer for every defensive strategy the Mystics tried. The home side patiently worked the ball to Aiken when the pressure was on, and upped the tempo later in the match once their confidence was soaring.

On defence, captain Laura Geitz hassled Cathrine Latu, while the second-half introduction of Amy Steel at goal defence reinforced the good work Clare McMenimen had done early on in wearing down Maria Tutaia.

Geitz said her side knew they had to increase the pressure after the halftime break.

"We talked about the third quarter being the championship quarter. We thought the Mystics wanted the ball more. So we went out there and took charge and won the game," she said.

Queensland Firebirds 57
Northern Mystics 44

Halftime: 26-24.