Firebirds 75 Tactix 32
Queensland Firebirds totally annihilated Canterbury Tactix in the most one-sided match of this season's transtasman netball league to date, powering to a 75-32 win in Brisbane last night.
The win consolidated their fifth place on the table, and with just one round remaining before the playoffs, the Firebirds are poised to challenge Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic for the fourth spot.
Last night's massive win further improved the Queenslanders' chances, putting them comfortably ahead of the Magic and the Steel on goal difference if the three teams finish round robin play tied on points.
At the moment, the Magic have dropped to fourth on 16 points after Southern Steel moved into third on goal difference following their 50-43 win over Northern Mystics, also last night.
NSW Swifts, unbeaten this year on 24, top the table ahead of Adelaide Thunderbirds on 18 points with three losses.
The Steel are unlikely to threaten the Swifts in Sydney next week, while the Magic will have their work cut out against the Thunderbirds in Rotorua. If both New Zealand teams lose, and the Firebirds can account for the eighth-placed West Coast Fever, they will join the Magic and the Steel on 16 points.
If that scenario eventuates, the Magic will drop to fifth on goal difference and miss out on the playoffs entirely.
The Firebirds certainly looked playoffs material - they dominated the Tactix in all areas of the court, beginning with shooters Romelda Aiken and Natalie Medhurst, who were treated to a flood of ball.
Neither shot particularly accurately - both Aiken and Medhurst ending with a 77 per cent success rate - but such was the flow of ball it didn't matter.
The Firebirds' defensive duo of Laura Geitz and Amy Steel dominated any combination of shooters Tactix coach Helen Mahon-Stroud put on court as Ellen Halpenny, Anna Thompson and Angela Mitchell were all tried with minimal success.
And although the Queenslanders were missing midcourter Sarah Wall, out with a season-ending knee injury, replacement Laura Scherian slotted in smoothly with centre Lauren Nourse and punished the Tactix on transition with every turnover.
The Christchurch-based team never threatened the well-drilled Queenslanders - they trailed 8-20 after 15 minutes, 15-37 at halftime and 24-53 at the three-quarter mark, out-muscled and outplayed for the full 60 minutes.
They are now firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table in 10th place, equal on points with Central Pulse, but with an inferior goal difference.
- NZPA
