Aiken helps break Aussies curse, but Byfield misses out
Published:Tuesday | April 20, 2010 | 2:16 PM
Jamaican netballers Romelda Aiken and Althea Byfield had below par performances during the ANZ Championships last night.
Aiken, the lanky goal shooter, scored just 29 goals from 37 attempts to help the Queensland Firebirds defeated the Southern Steel 56-41 at Stadium Southland in New Zealand.
As a result of the victory, the Firebirds achieved what no other Australian side has managed to do in the three-year history of the ANZ Championship.
The Firebirds beat the Steel at home in Invercargill, renowned as the domicile of the most passionate crowd in the sport in New Zealand.
Her compatriot Byfield failed to put up significant numbers in the defensive circle, where she had just five deflections, and the Northern Mystics slumped to defeat at the hands of home team and defending champions Melbourne Vixens 62-51 at Hisense Arena in Australia.
This coming weekend, Byfield and the Mystics face the Canterbury Tactix on Saturday on home soil at Trusts Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, Aiken and the Firebirds meet the Vixens on Sunday at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Australia.
Carla Borrego, another Jamaican and this season most prolific goal shooter, travel to the Challenge Stadium in Perth, Australia, to tackle the West Coast Fever.