Swifts next in line for resurgent Firebirds

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Gretel Tippett in action for the Queensland Firebirds against the West Coast Fever on Friday night.

GREG DAVISThe Courier-Mail

THE Firebirds are back.

And they are eyeing this Friday’s match-up with arch rival NSW Swifts to really stamp their authority on Suncorp Super Netball.

The Firebirds claimed their first win of the season with a dominant 60-47 victory over the West Coast Fever in Perth on Friday night after a draw and a loss in the opening two rounds.

Queensland held a commanding 34-18 lead at halftime before cruising home with star goal shooter Romelda Aiken hitting 44 goals from 53 attempts.

Firebirds captain Gabi Simpson said the purple powerhouse is slowly getting its groove back.

“It was a relief to get that monkey off our backs. Getting the win was really important for us, especially it being the first one,’’ she said.

Gretel Tippett in action for the Queensland Firebirds against the West Coast Fever on Friday night.Source:Getty Images

“It was a big one for us to recognise when we are going into a lull and change our actions to stop it happening. We were able to do that well in the first half.’’

The Firebirds host the new-look Swifts at the Brisbane Convention Centre this Friday night and while NSW lost a host of its stars in the off-season, Simpson said the grand final rematch still stirred the Queensland side.

“We can gain a little bit of extra confidence from our win over Fever. We have improved every week and there’s still areas we can take to a whole new level against Swifts,’’ Simpson said.

South African centre Erin Burger made an eye-catching debut for the Firebirds with nine goal assists, 24 feeds, two intercepts and two deflections against the Fever.

“What a phenomenal lady to step off a flight from South Africa two days before and have one training session and play such a composed game with so much energy and to fit in so perfectly,’’ Simpson said.

The Sunshine Coast Lightning take on Adelaide in Adelaide on Sunday.

Originally published as Swifts next in line for resurgent Firebirds

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