THE West Coast Fever have returned to the winners list in emphatic fashion, defeating the Queensland Firebirds by 34 goals.

The Fever dominated from the outset, scoring a competition record score and breaking a winning margin record in the process.

Sparked by a flying Courtney Bruce, the Fever raced ahead to an early lead in the first term, popping three goals on the board before the visitors had their first.

It was a high-paced and intense game from the get-go, with 10 goals scored inside the first four minutes of the quarter a sign of what was to come.

Even though the Firebirds’ shooters were trying their hardest to – at times in spectacular fashion – keep the ball in play at times, all the little scraps in play were going the Fever’s way.

The Fever got out to a lead as much as seven goals ahead, but then the Firebirds were able to work back into the game after making the most of a few opportunities.

Although Donnell Wallam landed the first Super Shot of the game, Sasha Glasgow countered straight away to see the margin sit at five midway through the Power Five.

That Super Shot was the first of four for the quarter for Glasgow, and with Wallam shooting almost as many up the other end, it continued to be a high scoring quarter.

Even with all the Super Shots, the Fever found themselves 10 goals ahead at the first change.

It was another high-scoring quarter from the Fever in the second term, and even though the Firebirds had briefly eaten away at the deficit, the Fever lifted more and more as the quarter progressed. Glasgow was still on fire from range as well which made things harder for the Firebirds.

By half-time, the Fever had doubled their quarter-time lead and took a 20-goal lead into the main break.

The scoring just kept coming from the Fever in the third term. For them, the third quarter was just a natural progression from the first and second term as they just continued to pile on the score.

The Firebirds led the quarter for much of the term, but a late push saw the Fever win the quarter and take their lead out to 23.

It was rinse and repeat in the final term, and even in the first five minutes of the term there was talk of the Fever breaking several league records. They broke the first of the records just inside the Power Five, and with an 11th successful Super Shot game from Glasgow, the Fever became the record holder of the highest score in a game.

Not even a Verity Simmons injury concern could stop the Fever’s momentum as they cruised to what ended up being a league-record winning margin.

For the Fever Bruce finished with a whopping 12 gains to go with her six intercepts, four deflections and four rebounds. Meanwhile, further up the court Alice Teague-Neeld (43 feeds, 25 assists) and Glasgow (14 Super Shots, 25 feeds, 17 assists, one gain, one deflection) also starred.

Meanwhile for the Firebirds Wallam (43/51 regular goals, 6/11 Super Shots) had another stellar game, as did Lara Dunkley (24 feeds, 13 assists, one deflection).

WEST COAST FEVER                     27 | 23 | 21 | 26 (97)
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS             17 | 13 | 18 | 15 (63)

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

Queensland Firebirds

GS: Donnell Wallam
GA: Emily Moore
WA: Lara Dunkley
C: Kim Ravaillion
WD: Ashlee Unie
GD: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
GK: Remi Kamo