Firebirds cruise past Steel in netball

Mar 2, 2014 - 8:33 AM The Queensland Firebirds, on the back of some heavy defensive pressure, ran out comfortable 60-44 winners over the Southern Steel on Sunday in the trans-Tasman netball league.

Trailing late in the opening quarter in Invercargill, the Firebirds put on nine unanswered goals to open up a 17-11 lead.

From there, they controlled the contest as they stifled the Steel with their tight defence through the court.

The Firebirds, last year's runners-up, went on to win every quarter, although the Steel did make a late run.

Both teams shot at 80 per cent, but the visitors put up far more attempts and their new shooting partnership of Jamaican international Romelda Aiken (34/43) and former Swift Amy Wild (26/32) combined well.

Skipper Laura Geitz was delighted with her side's first-up effort.

"We had a bit of a shaky start - obviously, a few new faces in the team," she said.

"It took a little while to settle into the combinations, but very, very happy with that game."

Geitz said the depth in the squad was one of the Firebirds' strengths this season and was sure to present coach Roselee Jencke with some tough decisions.

She also had plenty of praise for the contribution made by Wild.

"She hasn't had consistent games; she's had a little time on the bench," she said.

"To come out and produce that performance just shows what an amazing player she is."

Steel skipper Jodi Brown said the home side paid for making too many mistakes.

"There were too many personal errors and just the lack of connections down the attacking end," she said.

"We created a whole lot of ball from the Firebirds but we were just not able to score it down at the other end."

The Steel surprised by not starting their star shooter, Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, the 2013 competition's most valuable player.

Instead, coach Janine Southby chose to open with the greater mobility of youngster Te Paea Selby-Rickit at goal shoot.

Selby-Rickit was solid (13/16) before making way for Fowler-Reid at halftime.

Fowler-Reid was again the most accurate shooter on show, with a 91 per cent success rate (20/22).

Source: AAP