West Coast Fever have stored their Tremendous Netball title defence alive with a hard-fought 64-57 minor semifinal win over arch rivals Melbourne Vixens at Perth Enviornment.
Key factors:
- West Coast Fever will now face the NSW Swifts in subsequent week’s preliminary closing in Sydney
- Fever goalshooter Jhaniele Fowler scored 55 objectives
- Adelaide Thunderbirds await the winner of subsequent week’s preliminary closing after beating the Swifts on Saturday
The Fever led by six objectives early within the closing quarter of Sunday’s match, and nonetheless led 59-55 with 4 minutes remaining.
However the Vixens gave the house facet an almighty scare after that, with Kiera Austin nailing a Tremendous Objective, then having one other try to degree the scores with two minutes remaining.
Austin’s missed shot proved the top of the Vixens’ resistance, with Fever captain Courtney Bruce snaring a collection of essential deflections within the dying phases to assist seal victory.
The Fever will now face the NSW Swifts in subsequent week’s preliminary closing in Sydney.
The winner of that match will meet the Adelaide Thunderbirds within the July 8 grand closing in Melbourne.
Star Fever goalshooter Jhaniele Fowler scored 55 objectives in a powerful show, whereas Bruce was a rock in defence on the best way to fifteen deflections and 6 positive aspects.
Mwai Kumwenda scored 39 objectives for the Vixens, whereas Austin completed with 12 objectives and three Tremendous Pictures from her eight makes an attempt from lengthy vary.
The Thunderbirds secured a direct path to the grand closing with a shock 64-62 victory over the Swifts in Sydney on Saturday.
That main semifinal went to time beyond regulation, with the Thunderbirds holding their nerve when it mattered most.
It means the Swifts, who completed atop the ladder, should now win on their house turf to arrange a re-match with the Thunderbirds within the grand closing.
However they’ll face a hungry Fever outfit eager to defend their crown.
The Vixens shot out to a 10-6 lead halfway by means of the opening time period in a powerful begin to Sunday’s match.
However a vital intercept from Fever objective defence Sunday Aryang and a Tremendous Shot from Sasha Glasgow helped propel the house facet to a 15-14 lead at quarter time.
West Coast briefly misplaced the lead within the second time period earlier than a few essential positive aspects from Bruce ensured the Fever entered the half-time break with a 32-30 benefit.
Bruce had eight deflections within the first half in a stand-out show, and alarm bells had been ringing for the Vixens when a Glasgow Tremendous Shot prolonged the result in six objectives within the dying phases of the third quarter.
Austin pulled a Tremendous Shot again for the Vixens to scale back the margin to 4 objectives on the closing change, and the Vixens continued to struggle earlier than the Fever dominated the ultimate two minutes.
AAP
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