Fever Edged by Table Topping Thunderbirds

West Coast Fever pushed the league-leading Adelaide Thunderbirds to the limit, going down by just two goals in front of a vocal Mother’s Day crowd at Challenge Stadium, 49-47.

The Fever allowed the Thunderbirds to get an early advantage in the all Australian trans-Tasman clash, despite an excellent defensive effort from Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Josie Janz, that limited the dangerous Carla Borrego from inflicting further damage.

The home side couldn’t take control of the centre-court, with the visitors claiming a six goal quarter time lead.

Both teams retained their starting line-ups for the second quarter in an even term that saw both sides enjoy periods of momentum.

The crowd roared when Fever goal shooter Caitlin Bassett (WAIS) rode a huge bump from Thunderbirds defender Sharni Layton on the edge of the goal circle. Bassett took the penalty, rocketed the pass into goal shooter Catherine Cox and brought the margin back to five and gave the Fever a great boost as they continued to try to contain the hard-running Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds maintained a five goal lead at the main break (26-21) and appeared destined for a comfortable victory after a fast start to the second half, saw the lead swell to ten goals.

Fever coach Norma Plummer sensed the urgency and called a time-out to ring changes that would spark life back into a contest that was performed in front of typically fevered home support.

Margaret River product and WAIS scholarship holder Ingrid Colyer was called on to make her ANZ Championship debut at wing attack, with fellow WAIS athlete Verity Simmons moved into centre and Shae Bolton (WAIS) to the bench. The versatile Andrea Gilmore (WAIS) was brought onto wing defence to replace Chanel Gomes.

It was a big task for Colyer, with the 19 year-old matching up on Australian Diamond representative Renae Hallinan, but the debutant impressed with pace and agility as the Fever began to work their way back into the match.

The Fever was forced into another defensive reshuffle after Janz was winded in a goal circle contest and that brought 21U World Championship squad member Courtney Bruce (WAIS) onto the court for her first court time of the match.

Fever scored two of the last three goals of the third quarter to trail by seven at the last change, to take momentum into the final stanza.

As the Fever whittled down the Thunderbirds advantage, the crowd increased its intensity sensing an upset. With the margin at two goals, the visitors called a time-out which had the desired effect of slowing the tempo and with it, the Fever’s shot at pulling off a come from behind victory.

Fever’s next opponent is the Tactix who they will face at the Trafalgar Centre on Sunday, May 19. Their next home game is on Sunday, June 9 at Challenge Stadium against the Queensland Firebirds at 10.10am.

– with Netball WA