Vixens Hand Fever Heavy Defeat

The West Coast Fever ended its 2013 season with a 30 goal defeat at Hisense Arena against the Melbourne Vixens last weekend.

The Fever won five games for the season, to equal their effort in 2009, but couldn’t get past the finals-bound Vixens who claimed a 69-39 victory.

It was a tough first term for the Fever as the Vixens asserted authority in their bid to set up a strong finals campaign.

Fever captain Cath Cox worked hard inside and outside of the shooting circle as she tried to inspire her team and landed all eight of her attempts in the first quarter while goal shooter Caitlin Bassett (WAIS) was having a tough battle with Vixens defender Geva Mentor, as the Vixens led 17-10 at the first break.

Fever coach Norma Plummer rang the changes at quarter time, bringing Shae Bolton (WAIS) on to centre, moving Ashleigh Brazill (WAIS) to wing defence and Andrea Gilmore (WAIS) to the bench. Chanel Gomes also came on to replace Josie Janz (WAIS) at goal defence.

While the Vixens held a 14-goal lead at various stages throughout the second quarter, the Fever continued to fight and kept the lead to 12 at half-time, 34-22.

Cox stayed on target and at the main break had 15 goals from 15 attempts.

To start the third quarter, Plummer replaced Bassett with Kate Beveridge (WAIS) to try and mix things up at the attacking end and Beveridge took the opportunity with both hands and shot eight goals from 12 attempts.

However it was the finals-bound Vixens who held a 20-goal lead at three quarter time, 51-31.

Staying with their line-up the Fever scored the first goal of the final term, but the Vixens put their foot down and led by 26 when Cox called an injury time with 7.35min left in the game and was subbed off for Lisa Millman.

Millman added some intensity and scored both of her two attempts but it was the Vixens who ran away with a comfortable victory.

– NetballWA