Firebirds continue Super misery for winless Giants

Melissa Woods |

Te Paea Selby-Rickit won player of the match honours as the Firebirds overhauled the winless Giants.
Te Paea Selby-Rickit won player of the match honours as the Firebirds overhauled the winless Giants.

Queensland Firebirds have inflicted more pain on the Giants, posting a 71-64 victory in a tight contest between the Super Netball battlers.

The Giants appeared headed for a hard-earned victory in the 10th round of the competition, but were over-run by their Brisbane hosts in the final quarter. 

It was the Firebirds’ third win of the season to keep alive a very slim chance of playing finals, with the Giants anchored at the bottom of the ladder. 

The Giants led 18-16 at quarter-time and extended the margin to 39-33 by the main break, thanks to the long-range efforts of Matisse Letherbarrow.

Matisse Letherbarrow
Matisse Letherbarrow finished with 27 goals, including six super shots, but the Giants fell short. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

The goal-shooter tipped in five two-point super shots in the second quarter to give her team a healthy lead.

But Queensland swung momentum back their way in the third quarter, with Kiwi shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit stepping up in the goal circle.

They won that quarter 18-13 to close the margin to just one point, trailing 52-51.

The teams went toe-to-toe in the final term before the Firebirds kicked away, with Maddy Gordon dominating through the midcourt.

With Mary Cholhok doing the early damage in the goal circle and the Queensland defenders slowing the Giants’ ball flow, the home side took full control.

Mary Cholhok
Mary Cholhok finished with 34 goals from 41 attempts for the Firebirds. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

They put the brakes on the damaging super shot shooting of Letherbarrow and Sophie Dywer.

Cholhok finished with 34 goals from 41 attempts, while Selby-Rickit bagged 18 from 22, including four super shots, as well as 20 goal assists.

Letherbarrow (27 from 33) and Dwyer (25 from 26) shared the spoils for the Giants.

Selby-Rickit, who was named player of the match, said the win was vital for the Firebirds.

Kiri Wills
Firebirds head coach Kiri Wills (centre) was delighted to see her team bank their third win. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

“We’ve got our backs up against the wall at the moment and we need to win every single game from here if we want to make the top four,” the Silver Ferns veteran told Fox Sports.

“We came out today and stuck with them and it was a grind that first half and we threw away a bit of ball, but I think at the end we had composure to come home with the win.”

Only one team – Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2018 – have gone through a season without a victory, with the Giants’ next chance coming against that side next Saturday.

AAP