Netball: Mystics fold against high-flying Firebirds

Camilla Lees of the Mystics in action. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung / www.photosport.co.nz

The Mystics semifinal clash against the Queensland Firebirds has followed a sadly predictable script.

The Auckland side, who have struggled for consistency throughout the ANZ Championship season, folded all too easily against the high-flying Firebirds, slumping to a 60-44 loss in Brisbane.

It was always going to take an extraordinary effort from the Mystics to deny the Firebirds their third straight shot at the ANZ Championship title, but the visitors will be disappointed they didn't put up more of a fight.

The Mystics had their opportunities to put the Firebirds under pressure, but they could not match the homeside's intensity for long enough periods. They were let down by basic errors on attack, with Maria Tutaia and Cathrine Latu failing to come up with any answers to the dogged defence of Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman.

"The Firebirds just pretty much outdid us," a dispirited Tutaia said after the match.

"We did everything we could, but they looked like they prepared really well and they were just too good."

"Just on attack we weren't clinical enough, on defence we turned over a bit of ball but we weren't able to finish it off."

The Firebirds, who topped the Australian conference, came into the match on the back of an impressive run of 11 straight wins - their last four by an average of 17 goals. It was immediately apparent what the Mystics were up against in the opening spell, with the Firebirds getting off to a strong start, taking a 14-10 lead at the first break.

But it was a crippling second quarter that really cost the Mystics, as the visitors struggled to adapt to the Australian umpiring down their attacking end of the court, with Latu particularly costly, drawing five offensive penalties in the second spell.

The penalties, combined with some soft turnovers around the attacking third, saw the Mystics deficit blow out to 10-goals by halftime.

The Mystics kept pace with the homeside in the third spell, but basic errors prevented them from eating into any of the 10-goal deficit. They blew a crucial opportunity to pull the Firebirds lead back to seven heading into the final spell with a no-look pass from Latu meant for Tutaia going straight over the baseline.

With Latu attracting too much attention from Australian umpire Sharon Kelly, the Mystics opted to introduce Paula Griffin for the final quarter with the change of ends. The move initially looked to pay off, with the Auckland side opening the fourth quarter with three straight goals. But the red-hot Firebirds soon re-set themselves and powered home to a convincing 16-goal win.