Aiken shines but Firebirds suffer shock defeat to Vixens

Sunshine Girl Romelda Aiken despite scoring a game high 29 goals was unable to prevent defending champions Queensland Firebirds from suffering a 47-42 loss to the Melbourne Vixens in their opening game in the ANZ Netball Championship.

The shock result was Queensland’s first defeat since round 14 of the 2010 season.

This as they had gone the entire 2011 season undefeated en-route to winning the title.

Aiken received support from Australian Diamond Natalie Medhurst who had 12 goals from 21 attempts while Karyn Howarth had a team high 26 goals for Melbourne.

The Firebirds will next be in action on Saturday night Jamaica time against the Adelaide Thunderbirds, the team of another Jamaican Carla Borrego.

Borrego in the meantime notched a game high 41 goals from 48 attempts to lead the Thunderbirds to a 57-40 victory over the NSW Swifts in the opening match of the tournament on Saturday.