Queensland Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke insists her team will remain level-headed after continuing their unbeaten start to the season with a 61-52 win over a gallant West Coast Fever in Saturday's trans-Tasman netball clash in Perth.
Romelda Aiken connected on 50 from 57 shots to lead the Firebirds to their seventh straight victory and 20th in a row dating back to round one last year.
After a tight opening three quarters, the Firebirds pulled away in the last period to outscore the hosts 16-11.
Jencke was rapt with her team's performance against their bogey team, with the Fever being the last side to defeat the Firebirds.
"We always have a tight tussle with the Fever - it is always close between us," she said. "We are very happy and satisfied to come over to Perth and notch up a win."
Jencke was adamant the team would not lose concentration despite being the red-hot title favourites.
"(The 20-match winning streak) is not something we talk about or focus on," she said.
"We have a job to do every week and we have been really good at just focusing on what we have to do on the day."
The Firebirds were without injured goal attack Gretel Tippett, who did not make the trip to Perth after rolling her ankle last round against the Northern Mystics. Chelsea Lemke filled the breach connecting on 11 from 16 shots.
Jencke said Tippett would be available for the Firebirds' home match on Sunday week against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
"Gretel will be back next week. If we had played at home, she would have played. We didn't want to risk her on the plane," she said.
"Chelsea (Lemke) was able to step in and provide us something different with our game plan."
Fever coach Stacey Rosman refused to blame the loss on the Fever's arduous schedule, which included two weeks in New Zealand and the Perth clash coming just four days after their win over Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
"There is no doubt that 12 days away and a four-day turnaround is tough,", Rosman said. "They are the things you have to deal with but there is absolutely no excuse. We showed that we have a game plan that can match it with the best."
The Fever (4-3) play the Melbourne Vixens next Saturday at Perth Arena.
Share
