Dwell
West Coast Fever has stored its Tremendous Netball title defence alive with a hard-fought 64-57 minor semi-final win over arch rivals Melbourne Vixens at Perth’s RAC Enviornment.
Fever led by six objectives early within the closing quarter of Sunday’s match, and nonetheless led 59-55 with 4 minutes remaining.
However the Vixens gave the house facet an almighty scare after that, with Kiera Austin nailing a Tremendous Aim, then having one other try to degree the scores with two minutes remaining.
Austin’s missed shot proved the top of the Vixens’ resistance, with Fever captain Courtney Bruce snaring a collection of essential deflections within the dying phases to assist seal victory.
Fever will now face NSW Swifts in subsequent week’s preliminary closing in Sydney.
The winner of that match will meet Adelaide Thunderbirds within the July 8 grand closing in Melbourne.
Star Fever goalshooter Jhaniele Fowler scored 55 objectives in a powerful show, whereas Bruce was a rock in defence on the way in which to fifteen deflections and 6 features.
Mwai Kumwenda scored 39 objectives for the Vixens, whereas Austin completed with 12 objectives and three Tremendous Photographs from her eight makes an attempt from lengthy vary.
The Thunderbirds secured a direct path to the grand closing with a shock 64-62 victory over the Swifts in Sydney on Saturday.
That main semi-final went to additional time, with the Thunderbirds holding their nerve when it mattered most.
It means the Swifts, who completed atop the ladder, should now win on their dwelling turf to arrange a rematch with the Thunderbirds within the grand closing.
However they’ll face a hungry Fever outfit eager to defend its crown.
The Vixens shot out to a 10-6 lead halfway by the opening time period in a powerful begin to Sunday’s match.
However a vital intercept from Fever aim defence Sunday Aryang and a Tremendous Shot from Sasha Glasgow helped propel the house facet to a 15-14 lead at quarter time.
West Coast briefly misplaced the lead within the second time period earlier than a few essential features from Bruce ensured the Fever entered the half-time break with a 32-30 benefit.
Bruce had eight deflections within the first half in a standout show, and alarm bells had been ringing for the Vixens when a Glasgow Tremendous Shot prolonged the result in six objectives within the dying phases of the third quarter.
Austin pulled a Tremendous Shot again for the Vixens to cut back the margin to 4 objectives on the closing change, and the Vixens continued to combat earlier than Fever dominated the ultimate two minutes.
-AAP