Giants Netball defeat Queensland Firebirds in front of sell-out AIS crowd

The Giants have stayed unbeaten in Canberra with a gutsy 63-57 win over the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday, leaving the visitors winless after 11 rounds.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing as the Firebirds' undisciplined defense were penalised an astonishing 90 times.

Firebirds goal-defence Kim Jenner set the record for the most penalties by a player in a single game this season with 32 sanctions.

The Queenslander was told to adjust by umpire Helen George just minutes into the third-quarter after she consistently contacted at the centre-pass.

The Giants managed to come away unscathed from the physical battle but Queensland's Gretel Tippett suffered a suspected broken nose in the first-quarter.

The star-shooter ran into the elbow of Giants defender Kristiana Manu'a in the fourth minute and was sent to the blood-bin for the remainder of the quarter.

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But Firebirds keeper Laura Clemesha took two intercepts and Giants captain Kim Green fell offside, handing the visitors a four-point lead.

Wing-defence Amy Parmenter took a vital intercept to narrow the margin but the damage was done and Queensland claimed the first-quarter.

Queensland extended their lead back to four-goals in the second-quarter as the Giants struggled to bring the ball past their attacking transverse line.

Parmenter picked up another loose ball in the dying minutes and the Giants scored to bring down the margin to one-goal, but two missed attempts by Jo Harten in the next offensive play left the Sydneysiders just shy of a halftime equaliser.

The goal-attack admitted the Giants were disappointed with their first-half performance but said their second-quarter comeback set the tone for the rest of the match.

"We always knew it was going to be a grind because the Firebirds have an international circle and some tenacious centre-court and defensive players," Harten said.

"But the pressure we built in the second-quarter to turn it around pushed through to the third.

"[Parmenter, Manu'a and Jamie-Lee Price] kept the pressure on the whole time which equalled out the workload for our team and nullified their attacking end."

The Giants came firing back in the second-half and scored 10 of the first 13 goals to establish a 38-32 lead.

Coach Julie Fitzgerald brought replaced Green with Kiera Austin at wing-attack to bring a new style of play, but it was the Giants defense that turned the game around.

Goalkeeper Sam Poolman took two spectacular intercepts and Queensland began sweat under pressure. Tippett, Jemma Mi Mi and Romelda Aiken lost three balls over the sideline as the Giants drove the match home.

Green said the lifted defensive pressure of Poolman, Parmenter and Manu'a in the second-half created new opportunities and sparked the Giants comeback.

"We had a 100 percent possession-gain conversion rate in third which really deflates the other team," Green said.

"Other teams underestimate Poolman, but with Manu'a and Parmenter doing their out-front, she's able to her job really well. I thought she had a fantastic game today.

"They lifted up their defensive rate which created a lot more intercepts, tips and opportunities for us. You can't leave Aiken or Tippett one-on-one so you need that shifting and moving, which they were able to do in that last quarter."

The Giants next face the second-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning in Sydney, and with three rounds until finals Green said the side are still building to towards their peak.

"A lot of pressure was put on us of being inconsistent but we don't want to be hitting our straps at the beginning of the season," Green said.

"We've done that previously and it didn't work for us - you don't win grand finals like that. Our aim is to keep chipping and building, which I think we're doing a fantastic job of.

"Lightning have no weakness all over the court so everyone has to be on their game. We'll have to work as a unit to get across that line."

The Giants haven't defeated the Sunshine Coast since round-one last year and were knocked-out of last season's preliminary final.

"I just want to have a crack and win that game," Harten said.

"We're coming up against a good team who are in-form, and I haven't beaten them for a while.

"They've been a bit shaky over the last couple of weeks but have still had really good performances with two wins.

"For us, it's just about building on our confidence and not worrying about bonus points or chatter. It's going to be tough."

Meanwhile fifth-placed Collingwood Magpies drew 46-all with Adelaide Firebirds at Netball SA Stadium. The Magpies now have to make up four-points on the Giants to claim the last finals spot.

AT A GLANCE:

Super Netball: Giants Netball 63 (Bassett 30, Harten 33) bt Queensland Firebirds 57 (Aiken 30, Tippett 23, Latu-Meafou 4)