Firebirds stay top in Aust conference

May 24, 2015 - 9:09 AM The Queensland Firebirds have stayed top of the Australian conference after a comfortable 68-43 win over the Mainland Tactix in the trans-Tasman netball league.

The Firebirds showed speed and accuracy through court in Blenheim on Sunday night against the only side in the competition yet to win a match this season.

Skipper and goal keep Laura Geitz led another tight defensive effort and the transfer of the ball into the attack end was slick.

Wing attack Caitlyn Nevins, centre Kim Ravaillion and goal attack Gretel Tippett regularly found tall Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken, who finished with 62 goals from 67 attempts.

The Tactix tried hard and goal keep Zoe Walker was among those who toiled the hardest.

The home side actually took an early 4-2 lead, but that was as good as it got as the Queenslanders scored nine of the next 10 goals.

The Tactix's shooting combination of Mwai Kumwenda (22/25) and Bailey Mes (21/25) showed better accuracy than their opponents over the course of the contest.

But the Firebirds, who dominated the rebounds, were able to put up almost twice as many shots.

The visitors won every quarter and finished with a flourish, grabbing the game's last nine goals.

The win was the Firebirds' ninth in a row and it kept them two points clear of the West Coast Fever among Australian sides with one round to go.

Next weekend, they host another New Zealand team, the Southern Steel, who remain in play-off contention.

The Tactix's last chance of avoiding a barren ANZ Championship season will come against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, who are protecting second place in the NZ conference.

Source: AAP