Contrasting fates for Fowler, Nelson in Aussie league

PERTH, Australia (CMC):

West Coast Fever rebounded from their surprise first defeat of the season with a bang, thrashing New South Wales Swifts 76-58 last weekend with Sunshine Girl Jhaniele Fowler once again producing an outstanding performance.

The veteran 32-year-old netted 58 goals from 61 attempts as Fever unleashed an utterly dominant second-half effort to come away with their fourth win in five outings for the new Australian Super Netball Championship.

Fever held a slim 20-19 lead at the end of a competitive first quarter and were ahead by only four, 40-36, at the half-time whistle.

But they turned it on in the second half, out-scoring Swifts 14-11 before blowing them away 22-11 in the fourth, to storm to an easy victory in the end.

For Swifts, still without injured Trinidadian star shooter Samantha Wallace, Helen Housby led with 19 goals from 24 attempts.

There was no such joy, however, for Fowler’s Jamaican counterparts, Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling, as their Adelaide Thunderbirds crashed to a 60-50 defeat to Queensland Firebirds.

Playing at Nissan Arena in Brisbane, Thunderbirds found themselves trailing 23-32 at the half-time whistle but produced a surge in the third quarter to draw within two of the lead at 40-42.

However, Firebirds regained their footing in time and out-scored Thunderbirds 18-10 in the final quarter to pull away.

For the losers, South African Lenize Potgieter scored 20 goals from 23 attempts while Gretel Bueta led the winners with 26 from 27 attempts, with support from Donnell Wallam who scored 26 from 29.

Wilson plays at wing defence while Sterling commands the goal circle.

At the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney’s Olympic Park, another Sunshine Girl, Shimona Nelson, turned in a tremendous effort but it was not enough to prevent her Collingwood Magpies from a 76-61 defeat to Giants.

The 23-year-old scored 48 from 51 attempts, helping Magpies to keep pace with Giants in a competitive first half which ended 37-31 in favour of the hosts.

England’s Jo Harten was outstanding for Giants with a perfect 48 from 48 while Sophie Dwyer shot 22 from 23 attempts.

Heading into next weekend’s sixth round, Fever top the standings with 16 points but only ahead of Melbourne Vixens on goal difference.