THE West Coast Fever live to fight another day in the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season, after defeating the Melbourne Vixens 64-57 in the Suncorp Super Netball Minor Semi-Final.

In a match that ultimately came down to the final minutes, some stellar defensive performances from the Fever, in particular Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang, ultimately won them the game and ended the Vixens season.

As expected, it was tight as it could have been inside the opening few minutes of the game, however it was the Vixens who were the first to break centre pass, and they then converted to take the early lead.

Although the score may have been tight, the aggression was there from the Fever from the get go, wracking up seven penalties in the opening five minutes, compared to the Vixens’ two. They were also the only ones to concede any general play turnovers in the opening half of the quarter as the Vixens grew their lead.

The Vixens got out to as much as four goals ahead, but like the champion team they are, the Fever worked their way back into the game and the game tightened up.

Finally, off the back of the efforts of a flying Aryang, the Fever took the lead via a Sasha Glasgow speciality Super Shot with just under two minutes to go. In the end, the Fever lead at the first change was only a single goal, and that score line came off the back of a quarter of fast action that was just as tight as the score line.

The Vixens were forced to make a change at quarter time, with Jo Weston having to come to the bench after rolling her ankle at the end of the first term. Luckily for the Vixens though she was able to return later in the game.

The teams continued to trade blows early in the second term, with the smallest of slip ups all that it was going to take to open up the game. That finally came almost halfway through the quarter where the Vixens made the most of a wayward pass from the Fever to turn the ball over and take the lead for themselves.

The Vixens’ lead did not last long though as the Fever retook the lead only a couple of minutes later, but the Fever could not hold the lead for long either as the Vixens levelled up again. Both sides traded the lead a couple of times during the Power Five, but ultimately it was a two goal lead to the Fever at the main break.

The Vixens got the better start to the third term, levelling the game back up inside the opening five minutes of the term. From that point there was absolutely nothing to split the teams apart for most of the third term.

Finally it was the Fever who went on a run inside the final few minutes of the quarter, and as such they got out to as much as a game high six goals in front. However a late Super Shot from Kiera Austin helped bring back the margin to four goals in favour of the Fever.

The Fever slightly increased their lead early in the last term, but the team still felt evenly poised.

Then, off the back of the exploits of Emily Mannix, the Vixens went on a bit of a run and halved the deficit. As the Power Five drew closer, it was really anyone’s game, and with another Austin Super Shot the deficit was a mere two goals.

Austin almost levelled things up with another Super Shot, but thanks to a crucial rebound from Bruce it was ultimately a Fever goal.

Although she had been in the action all game, Bruce lifted to another level in the final few of the match. Her exploits helped the Fever restore their buffer to four goals, which ultimately gave them a boost to go on a run and the Vixens ultimately could not keep up.

Bruce (16 deflections, seven gains, three rebounds, one intercept) played a real captain’s game for the Fever despite racking up a high penalty count. Meanwhile up the other end despite seeming to be rattled at times Jhaniele Fowler (55 regular goals, one miss, one missed Super Shot) had another strong game.

Meanwhile for the Vixens, Liz Watson racked up 50 feeds to go with 23 assists, and she was well supported in attack by Austin (12 regular goals, three Super Shots, 23 feeds, 18 assists).

WEST COAST FEVER        15 | 17 | 16 | 16 (64)
MELBOURNE VIXENS     14 | 16 | 14 | 13 (57)

STARTING SEVENS

West Coast Fever

GS: Jhaniele Fowler
GA: Sasha Glasgow
WA: Alice Teague-Neeld
C: Verity Simmons
WD: Jess Anstiss
GD: Sunday Aryang
GK: Courtney Bruce

Melbourne Vixens

GS: Mwai Kumwenda
GA: Kiera Austin
WA: Liz Watson
C: Kate Moloney
WD: Kate Eddy
GD: Jo Weston
GK: Emily Mannix