The race for top spot in the trans-Tasman netball competition has heated up with the Queensland Firebirds handing the West Coast Fever their first defeat of the season with a 56-48 win at Perth Arena.
Romelda Aiken and Laura Geitz starred at either end of the floor as the Firebirds controlled much of the ANZ Championship contest to secure the eight-goal win.
With Aiken too athletic and winning her battle with Fever defender Erena Mikaere, and Geitz doing well defensively on Australian teammate Caitlin Bassett, the Firebirds close to within one game of the Fever on the table with a game in hand.
It became `the Aiken Show' as the match progressed, with the star shooter claiming 47 goals from 57 attempts.
Gretel Tippett had a night to forget, shooting 9 from 18, but she did put on some party tricks with Aiken in the final quarter.
Geitz did well limiting Bassett to shooting 35 from 39 attempts and while Nat Medhurst started well, she was shut down by Rebecca Bulley in the second half and finished with 13 goals from 15 shots for the Fever.
The Firebirds led by one goal at halftime, and three at the final break before taking complete control in the final term to cruise to an eight-goal win.
"Fever have been playing really well and they're not on top for no reason, but Romelda and Laura had to really work hard against C-Bass (Bassett) and Mikaere," Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke said.
"But the credit to all our players for shutting down their attack, especially on their transverse line, and made it difficult for them to get the ball to the circle where they've really dominated other teams."
Stacey Rosman tasted her first loss of coach of the Fever, but she expected her team to learn from it.
"It showed some areas that we need to work on obviously. But for us we've got a huge amount of improvement," Rosman said.
"I'm not worried nor panicking or anything like that, I think it gives us something to work towards as to what we can address now."
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