Netball

Heartbreak for Jamaican trio as Vixens edge Fever 73-72 to book final date with Thunderbirds

By Sports Desk July 27, 2024
Fowler-Nembhard's 60 goals from 62 attempts was not enough to stop the Vixens. Fowler-Nembhard's 60 goals from 62 attempts was not enough to stop the Vixens. Getty Images

It was heartbreak for Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Shanice Beckford, and Kadie-Ann Dehaney as West Coast Fever narrowly missed out on making the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League grand final following a nail-biting 72-73 loss to Melbourne Vixens in the preliminary final at the John Cain Arena on Saturday.

Fowler-Nembhard, who enjoyed superb form throughout the season, scored 60 goals from 62 attempts, including four two-goal Super Shot efforts, while Beckford scored four goals from four attempts, and Alice Teague-Neeld scored two goals from two attempts and three from the Super Shot line.

However, it was not enough to deny the Vixens, who got their goals from Sophie Garbin, who scored 40 goals from 40 attempts, and Kiera Austin, who had 33 goals from 32 attempts, including four from the two-goal Super shot line.

With the win, the Vixens have booked themselves a date with reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds in next week's grand final.

In what was a keenly contested encounter, West Coast Fever showed first, with Dehaney getting her hands onto the ball early. 

The Fever defensive pressure suffocated the Vixens attack, allowing the Perth-based team to establish a five-goal lead before the home side were able to settle their nerves. The Vixens clawed back the deficit to make it a one-goal game at 18-19 heading into the second quarter.

There was nothing to separate the teams in the second quarter, as they exchanged 19 goals apiece in pulsating end-to-end action, but the Fever remained one-goal ahead at 38-37 at half-time. 

Though the Fever upped the tempo with consistent defensive pressure at the top of the third quarter, they later lost momentum as the Vixens came to live and outscored their opponents 20-14 to take a 57-52 leading heading into the final quarter.

The Vixens maintained the momentum at the top of the final quarter and even extended their lead at one point.

However, with their usual never-say-die response, the Fever produced a late rally through Fowler-Nembhard and Teague-Neeld, who both scored a few Super Shots in the dying minutes. But too late was the cry as the Vixens held firm for the one-goal win and more importantly, gets a another shot at the Thunderbirds, who hammered them in the major semi-final.

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« ‘She’s the greatest’: Fever’s coach Ryan praises Jamaican superstar Fowler-Nembhard Let's hear it for the girls: Jamaican trio propel Adelaide Thunderbirds to consecutive SSN titles »

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