Injuries to Southern Downs netballers cost Firebirds dearly
NETBALL: The loss of Southern Downs pair Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman proved too big a hurdle for the Queensland Firebirds team which went down 66-51 to Southern Steel in Dunedin on Saturday.
Geitz was a late withdrawal with bone brusing on her knee while McMeniman was not fully recovered from a calf injury sustained a week earlier.
In a move that shows how important Geitz is to the team, coach Roselee Jencke started star shooter shooter Romelda Aiken at goalkeeper to mark ANZ Championship leading goal scorer Jhaniele Fowler-Reid.
The Firebirds trailed 14-8 after one quarter and 31-18 at half-time.
Jencke made changes at the first two breaks with Toowoomba player Laura Clemesha starting at goalkeeper for the third quarter and Aiken moving back to goalshooter.
The half-time changes pair dividends with the Firebirds winning the third quarter by two but then Steel took control of the game again in the final quarter.
The injuries to Geitz and McMeniman don’t appear serious and won’t damage their chances of being part of the Diamonds team for the internationals this year.
