It might have taken until the second last round of the Super Netball season but Queensland Firebirds have their first win of 2019 at the expense of last year's grand finalists, West Coast Fever.
The Firebirds had fought hard during the season with a young group and had a couple of draws along the way, including one at home to Fever, but it wasn't until Sunday at RAC Arena that they broke through.
It was a commanding performance by Queensland who went on a seven-goal run in the first quarter and led most of the way.
They again pulled away in the fourth quarter with 20 goals to 16 to record the 68-62 victory.
Having three genuine scoring options worked well for Firebirds with Gretel Tippett playing the whole game for 30 goals without a miss.
Lenize Potgieter added 19 from 21 after starting on the bench.
And following an entertaining stint as goalkeeper on Jhaniele Fowler, Romelda Aiken finished with 19 goals from 22 for the winners.
It was tough going for Fever defensively minus captain Courtney Bruce but up the other end, Jamaican superstar Fowler was again brilliant with 58 goals from 65.
Alice Teague-Neeld scored just four goals but had 22 assists and only five turnovers. But for Fever, ultimately they were outplayed through the mid-court.
The result leaves an outside chance for Firebirds to avoid the wooden spoon.
They must upset NSW Swifts on Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena and need either the Fever to lose to the Giants or Adelaide Thunderbirds to lose to Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Australian Associated Press
