Aiken stars as Firebirds lift title in historic fashion

BRISBANE, Australia (CMC):

Unrelenting defensive pressure and the shooting prowess of Romelda Aiken and Natalie Medhurst in a rampant third quarter, helped the Queensland Firebirds put their name on the ANZ Trophy for the first time, with a 57-44 victory over the Northern Mystics in the Grand Final yesterday.

Aiken scored 35 goals from 40 attempts, finishing as the season's most prolific scorer with 523 goals, and Medhurst 22 from 24, as the Firebirds ended a fairy-tale season by becoming the first team to play through the competition unbeaten.

The final margin of victory was also the largest in the history of the four-year competition, which had a different winner each time.

After a close and competitive first 30 minutes, a blockbusting second half by the home team put the seal on a dream season.

intensity

The scores were locked at 12-12 after the first quarter and the Firebirds edged to a 26-24 lead at half-time - but that was as close as the Mystics came the rest of the way.

A rearranged Firebirds defensive line, with wing defence Keirra Trompf going to the bench, Clare McMeniman taking over on the wing and Amy Steel coming off the bench to goal defence, coincided with a huge lift in intensity from the home team.

With Medhurst leading the charge, the Firebirds' attacking line was almost unstoppable. Playing near error-free netball, Medhurst and Aiken were all class as they took control to build a substantial lead.

The Mystics lost their structure and fell away, with the Firebirds taking a commanding 44-32 lead after three quarters.

An even final quarter was of little consolation to the Mystics, as the damage had already been done.