Sunshine Coast Lightning moves into top-four with win over rivals

The Queensland Firebirds unbeaten start to the season has been emphatically ended by rivals Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Battle of the Bruce.

Cara Koenen of the Sunshine Coast Lightning shoots for goal against the Queensland Firebirds. Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images

The Sunshine Coast Lightning’s state dominance continues with a hard-fought 64 to 50 win over compatriots Queensland Firebirds.

The 14 goal victory is the 13th time, in 18 clashes, that the Lightning have won the ‘Battle of the Bruce’.

The Lightning, sporting commemorative ANZAC bibs, got out to a solid start, forcing numerous early changes to the Firebirds’ lineup. Despite the Firebirds’ tenacious fightback attempts throughout the match, Lightning were able to extend their hold and put the game out of reach in the early stages of the final term.

Match MVP, Ash Ervin was a standout for the Lightning in defence. At 192cm, Ervin gave away almost 10cm of height to Firebirds shooter, Mary Cholhok. However Ervin’s impressive footwork and timing made up for it, allowing her to get four intercepts and ten deflections during her 60 minutes on court. Such was Ervin’s impact that Cholhok was benched for the first time in her Super Netball career during the third term.

Mary Cholhok of the Firebirds and Ashleigh Ervin of the Lightning compete for the ball in the Queensland derby. Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images.

Two Lightning team members were celebrating their 100th national league caps in today’s win. Midcourter Mahalia Cassidy and shooter, Cara Koenen who seemed to have put her worrisome form behind her as she netted 39 from 44 including two rare supershots.

Ahead of the match, Lightning coach, Belinda Reynolds, sang Koenen’s praises, “Cara is world class. She is proving this year that she is a double threat. And for her to play all those [100] games for the Lightning is showing that the coast is proud of the product that she is.”

Firebirds best on was co-captain Ruby Bakewell-Doran who continues to show national selectors why she belongs in the Diamonds setup. Across the match she collected nine gains and kept Lightning captain Steph Fretwell to an unusually low 13 from 20.

Despite showing impressive form in the opening rounds of their 2025 campaign, the Firebirds shooters regressed to the form of season’s past with all shooting below 75%. Adding insult to injury was their woeful missed shot conversion which got as low as 10% despite having the towering presence of Cholholk who should be reeling them in.

DIAMONDS DEFENSIVE POWER

Australian Diamonds selectors may be in for some headaches when choosing the national squad’s defensive line later in the season. In this game alone, there were two Diamonds squad members in Courtney Bruce and Ash Ervin for the Lightning, plus invitee, Ruby Bakewell-Doran, who has had a blistering start to the season for Firebirds. All three should be a lock for reselection. Young Isabelle Shearer may also be on the selectors’ radar if she keeps up the menacing form she’s shown to date. And then there is former Diamond, Tara Hinchliffe, who is surely eager to make the team again. That is just from these two teams. What of the other six?

DIAMONDS SHOOTERS

Despite Cara Koenen’s fear that her lack of supershots could mar her chances, she is one of Australia’s most experienced shooters and is solid under the post. Those two reasons alone will be big ticks towards her national selection. But could Emily Moore earn a Diamonds camp invite? The 28-year-old is having her best season and is a key playmaker up front for the Firebirds. If she increases her volume and accuracy, she could force the selectors to pay attention.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Lightning moves into top-four with win over rivals