in Match Reports

Fever celebrate with record-breaking win

22 MAY 2022

West Coast Fever celebrated coach Dan Ryan’s birthday with a new Suncorp Super Netball record against the Giants at RAC Arena on Sunday, winning 86-77 to surpass the previous highest team score of 82 by 4 goals.

Jhaniele Fowler led the way with a stunning individual performance of 68 points, including a Suncorp Super Shot in the final seconds that brought the house down in front of 5,053 fans at RAC Arena.

Key Moments

Sunday Aryang was a late withdrawal due to Covid Health and Safety Protocols, joining Jess Anstiss (foot injury), Rudi Ellis (Covid Protocols), and her younger sister Ruth Aryang (knee injury), as unavailable for selection.

Shannon Eagland was elevated from the West Coast Fever Reserves squad to start at Wing Defence and slotted in seamlessly, making a terrific contribution to Fever’s defence with her skill and experience.

She combined well with Courtney Bruce and Stacey Francis-Bayman to repel the Giants and help Fever turn defence into attack.

Verity Simmons starred in the Centre with 22 assists from 28 feeds and 2 timely intercepts, forming a potent avenue to the attacking circle alongside Alice Teague-Neeld at Wing Attack, who recorded 28 assists from 40 feeds.

Sasha Glasgow finished the game with 8 goals, 5 Super Shots and 20 assists at Goal Attack, while Fowler dominated the game with 67 goals, a Super Shot, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

Quarter By Quarter

1st – WCF 23 | GIA 21

Both sides were on target early and traded goals until Giants took advantage of a turnover and moved three goals in front at the 10-minute mark. Fever settled and took the lead after a penalty midway through the quarter. They pushed ahead by four entering the power five but a pair of Super Shots from Giants Goal Attack Sophie Dwyer quickly erased the Fever lead and another from shooter Jo Harten put the Giants in front. Sasha Glasgow responded with a Super Shot for Fever to put them 2 up at the first break.

2nd – WCF 23 | GIA 16

Fever increased their advantage to 5 in the opening minutes of the second term with sharp ball movement through Simmons and Teague-Neeld to Glasgow and Fowler, while Eagland, Francis-Bayman and Bruce provided excellent drive out of defence. Another pair of Super Shots in the power five from Dwyer helped Giants stay in touch before Glasgow added two long range goals of her own and Fowler slotted her 39th, helping Fever take a 9-point lead into the main break 46-37.

3rd – WCF 21 | GIA 17

Fever carried their momentum into the third quarter, increasing their lead to 14 with intensity at every contest forcing the Giants to make turnovers, which were capitalised on by Glasgow and Fowler. The Giants long-range shooting again kept them in the contest during the power five, but Fever continued applying scoreboard pressure, with Fowler finishing the quarter on 53 goals and Glasgow scoring her fifth Super Shot for a 67-54 lead at the last break.

4th – WCF 19 | GIA 23

Fever continued firing in the fourth, pushing further ahead for an 18-point lead approaching the power-five as they matched the highest ever score in a Suncorp Super Netball game of 82 and broke it with just over two minutes remaining. The Giants continued fighting and stayed on target from long range with 6 Super Shots for the quarter but couldn’t chase down a fast-finishing Fever. The home side increased their lead to 84 and then Fowler lifted the roof at RAC Arena with a Super Shot before the final whistle for an 86-77 win.