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Queensland defender Laura Geitz rated Sunday’s 53-42 upset of New Zealand heavyweights, the Magic, the best in the Firebirds’ history.
The Firebirds delivered on coach Vicki Wilson’s request for a “flawless” display by producing a stunning pressure game to inflict Waikato-Bay of Plenty’s first ANZ Championship defeat of the season at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken was again a star for the Firebirds, netting a game-high 42 goals in spite of a wayward first half when she converted just 68 per cent of her chances.
Wilson and national goal-keeper Geitz praised a complete team performance, borne out of full-court defensive pressure which contained the Magic to just 50 shots at goal compared to the home side’s 71.
In a battle of the world’s best shooters, Magic superstar Irene van Dyk showed Aiken how it was done by converting 94 per cent of her shots but was limited to 30 goals from 32 attempts by the Firebirds’ defence, led by Geitz.
Geitz had no reservations rating the triumph over last year’s grand finalists as the Queenslanders’ biggest victory in two seasons of the trans-Tasman competition.
“Definitely, the Magic have been playing excellent netball and that’s the really satisfying thing for us – that they’re in great form and it was such a convincing win,” she said.
“The great thing today too was that there wasn’t a stand-out player it was all seven on court.”
Van Dyk couldn’t remember a bigger loss by the Magic, who were undone by 10 goals by inaugural champions Sydney Swifts last year.
Queensland skipper Peta Stephens was rested on the bench due to a calf niggle but Demelza McCloud started brilliantly at goal defence with a rash of intercepts and asserted immense physical presence with Geitz against Silver Fern duo van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.
The Firebirds built their lead from 12-10 at quarter-time to 26-22 at the main break before grabbing control with a powerful third term to almost have the match in the bag at 40-32 at the last change.
Aiken then hit the next three goals of the final quarter to seal a crucial victory to move the jubilant Queenslanders to a 2-2 record and into the top four.
The Magics’ rare heavy loss leaves the Melbourne Vixens as the only unbeaten team in the trans-Tasman competition after four rounds.