Fever Edged Out by Thunderbirds
The West Coast Fever came within an inch of causing this season’s biggest upset, but the Adelaide Thunderbirds proved too strong in the final quarter to run out 54-45 winners at ETSA Park.
Fever were determined to put on a show for the Adelaide faithful, after narrowly losing to the Northern Mystics in Auckland last week, but started slowly in the first term. Fever coach Jane Searle made the first surprise move, starting young wing attack Sarah Ebbott (WAIS) ahead of Shae Bolton (WAIS).
The Thunderbirds broke away early in the match, but in true Fever spirit, the visitors clawed their way back, to be down by just one point at quarter time.
The second term mirrored the first with the Thunderbirds again looking to dominate, up by five early in the quarter. But the Fever refused to lie down, and some great defensive work by WAIS scholarship holder Susan Fuhrmann and goal defence Emma Beckett drew Fever level at half time.
Fever goal shooter Leah Shoard played an unfamiliar role, taking an even share of shots with WAIS goal shooter Caitlin Bassett well held by Thunderbirds goal keeper Geva Mentor. Shoard was outstanding in the first half, shooting at 92%.
It was Fever’s accurate shooting that kept them in the match at half time, as the Thunderbirds had seven extra shots for the half, but were unable to capitalize.
Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson ran through her bench for the third term, replacing Diamond and WAIS scholarship holder Kate Beveridge with Erin Bell at goal attack, after Beveridge was well held by Beckett, and below her best.
The third quarter has been the Fever’s best in season 2010, and they came out firing, opening up a three goal lead on last year’s grand finalists. But consistent turnovers began to count against Fever, despite the best efforts of goal keeper Susan Fuhrmann, who contained the competition’s leading goal scorer Carla Borrego for the majority of the match. The Jamaican was shooting at just 68% accuracy for the match.
The scores were level at 36-all heading into the final quarter, but that was as close as the Fever would get as the Thunderbirds ran away with the match.
The home side used the opening ten minutes of the final quarter to slam the door shut on any chance of a Fever revival, as Borrego began to find her rhythm late in the match. They jumped out to a six goal lead the Fever couldn’t rein in.
For Fever the final quarter was a massive disappointment, after being within reach up until that point in the match. Coach Jane Searle used the final few minutes of the match to run through her bench, giving goal attack Janelle Lawson her first court action since Round 8, and resting both Beckett and Captain Johannah Curran (WAIS).
The Fever will now concentrate on their final match for 2010, against the Queensland Firebirds at home on Sunday 20 June at Challenge Stadium.
– Netball WA