West Coast Fever yet to break
THE pecking order in a fiercely competitive Super Netball season should become clearer next weekend after two top-four clashes.
After three rounds, only the West Coast Fever remains unbeaten, albeit after surviving a huge scare to prevail 56-55 against winless defending champion Sunshine Coast Lightning on Saturday.
Next round the secondplaced Giants (2-1) are home to third-placed Queensland Firebirds on Saturday, while the Fever host fourth-placed NSW Swifts (2-1) on Sunday.
The Swifts will go in with fresh confidence after overcoming the Giants in a nail- biting Sydney derby clash yesterday, winning 55-54 at Qudos Bank Arena. The Fever’s rise from second-last in the inaugural competition has been the story of the season two so far, with Jamaican recruit Jhaniele Fowler proving a revelation at goal shooter.
Having topped 60 in her first two games, Fowler was held to 39 from 44 shots by the desperate Lightning, thanks in no small part to the defensive efforts of English international Geva Mentor.
However, Fever have yet to meet another top-four side, having posted earlier big wins over the Adelaide Lightning and Collingwood Magpies, and they face a huge test of their title credentials against the Swifts.
The Swifts repeatedly fought back against the Giants, who were in control for large sections of Sunday’s tense derby.
There was plenty of feeling between the rivals, with numerous collisions and players regularly hitting the floor as Giants captain Kim Green and Swifts wing defence Abbey McCulloch led the way in the physicality stakes. Swifts goal shooter Sophie Garbin replaced Sam Wallace (15/18) at halftime, with the team using her height and ability in the air successfully as she finished with 17 goals from 18 attempts.
The Firebirds again showed they are force to be reckoned with as they overcame a strong Melbourne Vixens outfit 59-55.
The return from a back injury of veteran defender Laura Geitz boosted the Firebirds who had lost both their clashes with the Vixens last season.
At the lower end of the ladder the Collingwood Magpies posted their first win, a 70-50 trouncing of winless Adelaide Thunderbirds, as international defender Sharni Layton produced her best game for some time.