Fever Outfoxed by Vixens

The West Coast Fever was outfoxed 54-38 in its match against the Melbourne Vixens at Perth’s Challenge Stadium on Sunday.

Despite the best efforts of Australian Diamond defender Susan Fuhrmann (WAIS), who finished the match with three rebounds and two deflections, the Vixens kept their 2011 finals’ hopes alive in the 16 goal win.

The Vixens made the first surprise move of the match, seating English International Geva Mentor on the bench, despite her strong record against WAIS shooter Caitlin Bassett. Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg instead opted for former Diamond pair Bianca Chatfield and Julie Corletto in the defensive circle.

There were early turnovers from both sides, before Fever goal attack Leah Shoard called time out five minutes into the first – seeking treatment for a back complaint. The time-out stemmed the Vixens flow of goals, before Shoard was again forced to seek treatment. With blood flowing from her mouth, Shoard was replaced by former Vixen Ashlee Howard. The second break in play spurred the Fever who scored three straight to close within two, but the experience of the Vixens was on display in the final minutes of the quarter. The Vixens pushed their lead out in the dying minutes, to head into the first break 16-9.

With no change for either side in the second, both teams went goal for goal early in the quarter. A time-out to Vixens captain Bianca Chatfield gave Fever coach Jane Searle the opportunity to change her midcourt as she shifted Sarah Ebbott to centre and moved WAIS scholarship holder Shae Bolton to wing attack. The move paid off early as Bolton was able to penetrate the tight one-on-one defence of the Vixens. The Fever had the next two goals as they attempted to bridge the seven goal gap, but like the first, the Fever faltered in the final minutes of the quarter. The Vixens had six of the last eight goals to extend their lead out to nine at half time. Tegan Caldwell had 21 goals by the main break to dominate the Vixens’ scoring, with Kate Beveridge (WAIS) well held by Fever International Susan Fuhrmann.

Searle made more changes to her midcourt, in an effort to add drive and penetration, reintroducing Leah Shoard into the match at wing attack, while Bolton was shifted back to centre. The Fever started the better of the two sides, with Ashlee Howard becoming a bigger scoring option, and Bassett using the circle to her advantage. A time out again to Chatfield steadied the Vixens, as the match continued to go goal for goal. The Fever had been outscored in the final minutes of the two previous quarters, but a time out to Ama Agbeze as the Vixens started to get a run on, gave the Fever the momentum.

The Fever had the final two goals of the term, to win the quarter and head into the final period down by just eight goals. But that was as close as the Fever would get as the Vixens pulled away in the last. It took until the six minute mark of the final term for the Fever to score a goal as the Vixens dominated possession.

Fever star Susan Fuhrmann was outstanding with her hands-over defence as she intimidated the Vixens goal shooters, forcing a 57% accuracy rate for the second half. Despite the missed attempts by the Vixens, the Fever was unable to capitalize on their rebounds, as mid-court turnovers began to count against the home side. Just six goals in the final term was a telling statistic for the Fever, as the Vixens ran away with the match.

The Fever now face two weeks on the road to finish the season with matches against the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the undefeated Queensland Firebirds.

– Netball WA