A slow start has cost the Central Pulse, who were soundly beaten 58-32 by the Queensland Firebirds in trans-Tasman netball action in Brisbane this afternoon.
Despite being the defending champions, the Firebirds have begun the season with two losses, albeit to two Australian teams who are traditionally tougher opposition.
Queensland's defensive pairing of Amy Steel and Laura Geitz were dominant in the opening stages as Pulse goal attack Paul Griffin struggled to find her shooting range and the Pulse were behind 13-6 after the first quarter.
The Wellington-based Pulse were sluggish from the beginning of the contest and the home side were up 4-0 before the visitors even got on the score sheet.
The Pulse, who came in to the game sitting fifth on the ANZ Championship ladder, had never won a game across the Tasman and their best result was a draw against the West Coast Fever when the game was abandoned in Perth due a to leaky roof in 2008.
Otaki's Katarina Cooper played her first game for the franchise after missing the opening two games of the season with a nagging ankle injury and started the game at wing attack.
The 26-year-old found the going tough in the first quarter as she turned the ball over three times but began to find her stride as the game progressed and fed the circle well in parts.
Pulse coach Robyn Broughton made a couple of changes at half time though and Cooper was substituted for Ngarama Milner-Olsen, while Griffin was replaced by Amber Bellringer after shooting four from 12.
Both sides shot the ball poorly in a scrappy opening quarter and Queensland's towering goal shoot, the 1.96m Romelda Aiken, was a dismal seven from 14 during the first 15 minutes.
It was much the same in the second stanza for the Pulse as the Firebirds extended their lead courtesy of Natalie Medhurst who drained 12 from 13 attempts in the opening half as they enjoyed a 26-13 lead at the split.
The Pulse managed to crack double figures for a quarter in the third spell after their bench players gave them sharper direction, but they field to make inroads in to the Firebirds' large lead, while the fourth and final period produced much of the same from a dominant Queensland outfit.
It was the Pulse's second loss in three games, while the Firebirds score their first win of the campaign.
Queensland Firebirds 58, Central Pulse 32. HT: 26-13
