Following Round 6 of the Suncorp Super Netball League (SSN) West Coast Fever are now the only team that remain unbeaten, after Melbourne Vixen’s suffered their first defeat live on NetballPass this weekend.
Despite Fever winning their sixth successive game it wasn’t the perfect performance we have been used to by them, with Adelaide Thunderbirds pushing them in every quarter until only one goal separated the two sides at full-time.
It was Thunderbirds that actually had the biggest quarter win, taking the second period of 15-minutes by four goals, however, Fever marginally won all three other quarters by no more than two goals to keep their unbeaten streak alive.
The Fever attacking circle stole the show with their Jamaican Sunshine Girl shooters, Shanice Beckford and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, playing against their fellow Jamaican teammates, Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.
Fowler-Nembhard and Beckford were both unphased by their international teammates as they shot at 100% from one point range.
Melbourne Vixen’s on the other hand did not manage to withstand the immense pressure of Sunshine Coast Lightning, as they lost their first match of the season by seven goals.
Just like in the Fever match, all eyes were on the goal circle, where Lightning were missing Australian Diamond and NWC2023 defender of the tournament, Courtney Bruce, but they did not need to worry as fellow Aussies Tara Hinchliffe and Ash Ervin stepped up to the test and dominated the defensive end.
Hinchliffe made four interceptions and nine gains, whilst Ervin made three interceptions and nine gains, which proved crucial in their 57-64 win.
Elsewhere in the SSN, Mavericks recorded their second win of the season beating Firebirds, and NSW Swifts left Giants still hanging on at the bottom of the table as they beat them 76-52.
Mavericks were boosted by the return of England Rose, Eleanor Cardwell this week, who slotted straight back in at goal attack scoring 17 of her 20 shots, and one out of two of her Super Shots, whilst assisting Jamaican Sunshine Girl Shimona Jok 15 times.
Jok scored 50 of her 55 shots, and was later awarded player of the match for her performance which saw Mavericks win 62-69 despite a late comeback from Firebirds.
For NSW Swifts it was another England Rose shooter that made the difference – this time Helen Housby.
Housby continues to reign the Super Shots charts in the league with 39 to her name this season, having scored another 7 Super Shots in Swifts 76-52 win over Giants.
To catch up on all this week’s SSN matches head over to NetballPass now.
Next up on NetballPass the international netball family will be able to watch:
- Lightning vs Firebirds
- Thunderbirds vs Swifts
- Mavericks vs Giants
- Fever vs Vixens
To view all the results, the current table, and read our International Player Watch preview, visit our SSN page here.