The Queensland Firebirds have enjoyed a 21-point drubbing of Adelaide but are ruing a costly opening-quarter slip-up that could affect their Super Netball finals destiny.
The fourth-placed Firebirds, as expected, dominated the cellar-dwelling Thunderbirds in their 67-46 rout at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Sunday.
But they were left with a bitter taste in their mouths as they twice lost control of the first term for the determined visitors to deny them a crucial bonus point by drawing level on quarter-time.
With each competition point vital as the top five clubs jockey for play-off positions with just one round left, the Firebirds' could pay a heavy price for missing out on an eight-point clean sweep.
It means that with one round to play, the three-time champions have dropped a point behind local rivals the Sunshine Coast Lightning (63) on a tight leaderboard where West Coast (70) stand tallest.
"We could be saying (next week) for one point the Firebirds could have jumped the Lightning - I think it's going to be crucial," netball great and commentator Liz Ellis said.
Despite the disappointment, the Queenslanders are five points clear of the waning fifth-placed Melbourne Vixens and are favoured to sweep aside Collingwood next Sunday to guarantee a finals spot.
Last-placed Adelaide suffered a season-worst 31 goal defeat to the Lightning last week and were expected to be easy prey for the Firebirds.
But the home side gave up a 7-3 lead as the Thunderbirds - with new attack pairing Chelsea Pitman and young Jamaican Shimona Nelson on fire - went on a five-goal run after their opening time out.
The Firebirds wrested control back by the end of the term but then again made a crucial last-minute error to enable the visitors to tie the scores at 15-all before the buzzer.
"It was a disappointing start and to be honest I think were just a bit tense," star midcourter Gabi Simpson said.
"When we relax and playing freely we play a lot better, like you saw towards the end there."
The Firebirds pressured the crafty Pitman far more in the second quarter to take a 33-27 lead into the main break before dominating the second half.
With defender Tara Hinchliffe subbed in for Kim Jenner and Simpson and centre Caitlyn Nevins taking charge, the home side blew Adelaide away 18-9 in the third-quarter.
Nevins finished with 23 goal assists to be player of the match, while star shooter Romelda Aitken converted with 45 from 54 and teamed well with Gretal Tippett (22 from 27).
