West Coast Fever defeated the NSW Swifts 76-58 in a physical Round 5 encounter at RAC Arena to reclaim top spot on the Suncorp Super Netball ladder.
Players hit the floor throughout the match as both sides showed great determination and commitment to the contest.
Despite the final margin of 18 points, the Swifts tested Fever throughout the match and forced them to earn the win with a full four-quarter effort.
Key Moments
A strong defensive rebound in the third quarter by Courtney Bruce and athletic intercept from Sunday Aryang in the fourth highlighted a superb defensive effort from the Fever duo that helped set up the hard-fought win.
Bruce finished the game with an incredible 12 gains, 5 intercepts, 6 rebounds and 4 deflections, while Aryang had 5 gains, 3 intercepts, 3 deflections and a rebound.
At the other end of the court, Jhaniele Fowler’s output was also sensational with 60 goals, including 2 Suncorp Super Shots. Her second long-range goal moments before the final whistle brought the house down at RAC Arena as 4199 Green Army fans celebrated the win.
Quarter By Quarter
1st – WCF 20 | SWI 19
The Swifts got away to a fast start and forced some early turnovers to lead by 3 before Fever settled and levelled the scores. With Bruce and Aryang both applying great defensive pressure and Teague-Neeld, Simmons and Glasgow getting creative to feed Fowler, Fever pushed ahead by 4 heading into the power five. A clinical shooting display by Helen Housby with four Super Shots for the Swifts narrowed the margin to 1 at quarter time.
2nd – WCF 20 | SWI 17
Fever increased their lead during an intense quarter, with Bruce creating havoc for the Swifts attack with four intercepts and Stacey Francis-Bayman entering the contest at Wing Defence to record an intercept of her own. Emma Cosh came on at Wing Attack to relieve Teague-Neeld and had three quick assists, helping Fowler take her half-time goal tally to 30. Housby and Singleton were also on target for the Swifts, combining for another 5 Super Shots in power time, before Fowler reinstated Fever’s lead to 40-36 with a huge Super Shot right before the half-time whistle.
3rd – WCF 14 | SWI 11
A low-scoring third quarter was highlighted by some great defensive efforts at both ends of the court, with Bruce and Anstiss both recording intercepts for Fever. Defensive pressure from Aryang and Bruce was also important in forcing Housby off her target, and she only scored 1 of 4 Super Shot attempts for the quarter. Fowler added another 13 goals at the other end enabled by another 7 assists from Verity Simmons, who finished with the game with 21, to see the home side in front 54-47.
4th – WCF 22 | SWI 11
Fever continued applying strong pressure in the fourth and rebounded well out their defensive third to open up the contest and establish a 12-point lead heading into the final five minutes. Fever worked hard to maintain possession and control the tempo in power time to deny the Swifts any quick-scoring opportunities. Fowler put an exclamation point on the result with another long-range Super Shot to the delight of the Green Army fans.
Final – WCF 76 | SWI 58
By the Numbers
Goals: Fowler 60 | Housby 19
Super Shots: Glasgow 5 | Housby 10
Goal Assists: Simmons 21 | Proud 27
Feeds: Simmons 33 | Proud 46
Centre Pass Receives: Teague-Neeld 20 | Proud 18
Pick Ups: Anstiss & Bruce 2 | Hadley 3
Deflections: Bruce 4 | Fawns, Housby, Klau, O’Shannassy 2
Gains: Bruce 12 | O’Shannassy 3
Intercepts: Bruce 5 | Klau & O’Shannassy 2
