DESPITE being challenged by the Sunshine Coast Lightning, the West Coast Fever overcame the challenge and recorded a nine-goal win over their gallant opponents.

Both of these sides had key outs heading into the game. Jessica Anstiss was missing for the Fever, while Laura Scherian was missing for the Lightning.

It was very even for more then five minutes to start the match, with the play going goal for goal. It lasted about six minutes before the Fever began to build a little lead.

The contrast in defensive pressure from both sides was stark. The Fever’s defensive pressure was much stronger then the Lightnings, with the Fever able to get it down to their shooters much easier.

The Fever’s lead got out to four goals, but some straight super shot shooting from Steph Wood meant that it was actually the Lightning that took a one-goal lead into the first change. It did not take too long into the second term for the Fever to reassert control on the match, racing out to a five-goal lead inside the first five minutes.

The Lightning could not bridge the gap, so they brought on Kadie-Ann Dehaney into goal keeper in the hope that she would be able to quell the influence of fellow Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler. It did not work as the Fever only stretched out their lead even further.

What was not helping the Lightning was their lack of defensive pressure coming down the court, which was an issue they had not fixed from the first term. The Fever’s lead got out to as much as 12 goals, but thanks to a late Wood super shot, the half-time margin sat at 10 goals, with the Lightning with a mountain of work ahead of them.

The Lightning swung the positional changes at half-time, hoping the moves would change something for them. It included moving Wood out to wing attack in a rare move, and bringing Reilley Batcheldor on at goal shooter.

It did not seem to work early as the Lightning could not bridge the gap, and it remained at the nine to 10-goal mark for much of the opening third of the term.

As the quarter moved into the middle part and on the eve of the Super Shot period, things finally started to tighten. The Lightning managed to get the margin down to two during the power five period, but as the teams turned for home the margin was seven goals.

Sunshine Coast Lightning’s hard work was all undone in the opening minutes and the margin was suddenly back at out at 10 goals. The Lightning bridged the gap slightly towards the middle of the term, and got it down to as low as six goals.

The Fever then stretched the margin out to as much as 11 goals, and that is what was the difference in the end as the Lightning could not bridge the gap.

For the Fever, Fowler was unstoppable under the ring. She only missed one super shot for the whole night. That’s it. She shot at 100% from one point range. Verity Simmons also had a very good game in centre.

Meanwhile for the Lightning, Cara Koenen was very accurate in front of goal, only missing two shots for the whole game, while even though Wood was moved out of her usual position for the second half, she still made an impact.

Next round sees both these sides hosting the Tuesday midweek fixtures. Sunshine Coast Lightning play host to the Swifts, while the Fever are hosting the Vixens.

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING 19 | 11 | 19 | 16 (65)
WEST COAST FEVER 18 | 22 | 16 | 18 (74)

STARTING SEVENS:

Sunshine Coast Lightning:

GS: Cara Koenen
GA: Steph Wood
WA: Annie Miller
C: Mahalia Cassidy
WD: Maddie Hinchliffe
GD: Kate Walsh
GK: Tara Hinchliffe

West Coast Fever:

GS: Jhaniele Fowler
GA: Emma Cosh
WA: Chelsea Pitman
C: Verity Simmons
WD: Stacey Francis-Bayman
GD: Sunday Aryang
GK: Courtney Bruce