Fever Vanquished by Firebirds

West Coast Fever has gone down to the QLD Firebirds by 25 goals in front of a packed house at Challenge Stadium.

Coming off the bye after a 10-day roadtrip to New Zealand, the Fever held strong until three quarter time before the Firebirds ran away with the 72-47 win.

Fever opened the game with the first two goals but it was an 11-goal to nil run in the opening quarter that dented their bid to claim their fifth win of the season.

Despite shooting at 100 percent in the first term, 13 from 13, Fever couldn’t stop the flow of the ball into the Firebirds goal circle, where shooters Romelda Aiken and Natalie Medhurst made the most of their opportunities.

At one stage the Firebirds led by 12 goals but Fever worked their way back into the game and brought the margin back to six at the first break, 19-13.

The Firebirds broke the lead out to 12 again early in the second quarter but Fever responded after coach Norma Plummer rang the changes. The lead was reduced to eight after the visitors called an injury time. WAIS athlete Josie Janz had her ankle treated and that took her from the court, bringing another WAIS scholarship holder in Courtney Bruce onto goal defence. Plummer also moved Shae Bolton (WAIS) to the bench, moved Ashleigh Brazill (WAIS) into centre and Chanel Gomes onto wing defence.

By half-time the Firebirds, led largely by goal defender Demelza McCloud and wing attack Chelsea Pitman, had contained Fever’s fight back to lead by 11, 37-26.

Despite the athletic work of Brazill and the defensive strength Beckford-Chambers and Bruce showed in the circle, it was that eight-goal margin the Fever just could not crack and the Firebirds went on to lead by 14 at the final change, 51-37.

More changes came for the Fever to start the fourth quarter as they tried to inject some fresh legs into the contest.

Kate Beveridge (WAIS) went on to goal attack to replace Cath Cox, Bolton replaced Verity Simmons (WAIS) at wing attack, Andrea Gilmore (WAIS) replaced Gomes at wing defence and Beckford-Chambers moved out to goal defence and Bruce back into goal keeper.

But the Firebirds were on a mission and they showed how tough they will be to beat in this year’s finals series.

– Netball WA