Collingwood Magpies stun Queensland Firebirds in Super Netball
The Collingwood Magpies have broken through for just their second Super Netball win of the season by defeating Queensland Firebirds 67-62 in Launceston.
Collingwood headed into Sunday's match stranded in seventh spot on the ladder but stunned the in-form Firebirds as goal attack Erin Bell (33 goals) powered the Magpies to a morale-boosting victory.
In a surprise move, the Magpies handed 19-year-old defender Matilda Garrett her first Super Netball start ahead of Diamonds goal keeper Sharni Layton.
The line-up change appeared to be a masterstroke with the Magpies bursting out to an early five-goal advantage and extending the lead to seven in the third quarter before the Firebirds fought back to tie the game.
But the Magpies steadied after subbing in the experience of Layton and centre Kim Ravaillion to help withstand Queensland's late charge.
Collingwood won three quarters to finish with seven competition points in the win and move within striking distance of the top four heading into the bye round.
With leading scorer Caitlin Thwaites locked in a tough battle with Firebirds veteran Laura Geitz, Bell played her best game in Collingwood colours with her string of eight straight goals sparking the Magpies' four-goal break at halftime.
Thwaites imposed herself on the game in the second half to finish with 34 goals with 85 per cent accuracy while midcourter Madi Robinson compiled 37 circle feeds and 22 goal assists.
Romelda Aiken bagged 42 goals from 51 attempts in her 150th game for the Queensland Firebirds while Gretel Tippett made 20 of her 21 shots to go with 18 assists.
Behind their new-look defensive pairing, the Magpies cashed in on some errant Queensland turnovers to build a 6-2 lead, forcing Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke to use an early time out.
The Firebirds regrouped with Aiken and Tippett starting to break down Collingwood's defence but the Magpies held on to take a lead 17-16 at the first change.
The second quarter turned into an arm-wrestle with both teams trading goals until the Magpies broke away in the final minutes with five goals in a row to establish at 35-31 lead at halftime.
Bell was on song early in the second half as the Magpies' lead grew to seven goals but Aiken poured in 15 third-quarter goals as the Firebirds levelled the scores at 50-all before the Magpies took control in the final quarter.
The Magpies will travel to Sydney after the bye to play the Giants while the Firebirds will face the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
