Fever deal with Swifty challenge to remain undefeated

IT was a milestone match to remember for Sunday Aryang as she and her West Coast Fever made it a month undefeated to start the season with a 78 goal to 67 win over the NSW Swifts.

The Swifts started strongly but the Fever patiently worked their way into the game, capitalised on Swift errors and ultimately took the win.

After a handy intercept from Sarah Klau, it was the Swifts who were the first to pinch a goal off an opposition centre, and converted the next centre pass to consolidate the lead.

The Fever were off their game early and the Swifts capitalised, racing out to a six goals to one lead.

But in a sign of their quality, West Coast worked their way back into the game and by the time the halfway point of the quarter came, the Fever had taken the lead and momentum and had the Swifts on the back foot after a run of six goals in a row.

It stayed tight for the remainder of the quarter, but just as it looked like the Swifts were going to head into the first break with a game high five goal lead, Jhaniele Fowler landed a rare Super Shot to take the deficit back to just three at the first change.

The Swifts were able to maintain their lead to start the second term, and even briefly bringing the margin back out to that game high five goals.

Intensity from both sides also lifted in the second term, with a number of players across both teams ultimately ending up on the floor.

Again, just like in the first quarter, the Fever patiently worked their way back into the match, and levelled it up then took the lead early in the Power Five period.

The Fever lead was not big and as such the Swifts were able to level things back up again with 90 seconds to go.

It was also level at the main break, with both sides locked in a real tussle.

After an even first couple of exchanges in the third term, the Fever did manage to break away and take a solid lead.

The Swifts certainly had their chances to get back in the game, particularly late in the quarter, but some errant passing worked against them. As such, the Fever lead sat at eight goals at the final change.

It took a few minutes, but finally the scoring got started for both sides in the final term.

However the Swifts were their own worst enemy at times, as they made plenty of errors with the ball, which did not allow them to score even if they did earn themselves some turnover ball.

This allowed the Fever to just keep extending their lead, with it quickly reaching double figures.

This part of the game was ultimately the turning point in the game. As much as Helen Housby tried to keep her side in the match with a consistent run of Super Shots, Sasha Glasgow had other ideas and did the same thing up the other end.

For the Fever, Courtney Bruce finished with a whopping nine gains and six deflections and well as three intercepts, while Alice Teague-Neeld (46 feeds, 32 assists, three deflections) was an absolute workhorse in midcourt.

Meanwhile for the Swifts Housby ended with seven nailed Super Shots, but it was not enough to get her team over the line. Klau (three gains, three deflections, two intercepts, one rebound) also had a really good game.

NSW SWIFTS                   18 | 17 | 16 | 16 (67)
WEST COAST FEVER        15 | 20 | 24 | 19 (78)

STARTING SEVENS

NSW Swifts

GS: Romelda Aiken-George
GA: Helen Housby
WA: Maddy Proud
C: Paige Hadley
WD: Allie Smith
GD: Maddy Turner
GK: Sarah Klau

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

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