Fowler outshoots Nelson to keep Fever unbeaten

PERTH, Australia (CMC):

SUPERSTAR JHANIELE Fowler outshone her Sunshine Girls teammate Shimona Nelson as leaders West Coast Fever continued their unbeaten start to the Australia Super Netball Championship season with a crushing 80-53 victory over Collingwood Magpies last weekend.

Playing at the RAC Arena on Sunday, Fever dominated the contest to win every quarter and send a stern warning to rivals of their intent to robustly defend their title.

As usual, the 33-year-old Fowler spearheaded the hosts’ attack, scoring 51 goals from 52 attempts in her third straight 50-point effort.

Nelson, who has also enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, finished with a perfect 20 goals from 20 attempts while Sophie Garbin supported with 14 from 18 attempts.

Fever started strongly to lead 18-13 at the end of the first quarter, and sustained their momentum in the second quarter to open up a comfortable half-time lead, 37-24.

There was no letup from the hosts in the penultimate quarter, outscoring the visitors 21-14 before going on to also control the fourth quarter with a 22-15 effort.

At Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on Saturday, another Jamaica international Romelda Aiken-George took centre stage as she helped New South Wales Swifts edge Queensland Firebirds 74-71.

The hosts were down by one, 57-58, at the start of the final quarter but pulled out the stops in the final quarter to post their first win of the new season.

Aiken-George, 34, led the winners with 39 goals from 48 attempts while Helen Housby was excellent with 22 from as many attempts.

Donnell Wallam carried the weight of scoring for Firebirds, finishing with 60 from 63 attempts.

The game was close from the outset, tied at 20 at the end of the first quarter before Firebirds edged ahead in the second quarter to be up at 40-37 at the break.

Swifts hit back in the third quarter to draw within one before outscoring Firebirds, 17-13, to get over the line.

In Saturday’s other game at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Adelaide Thunderbirds – featuring Sunshine Girls defenders Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling – trounced Sunshine Coast Lightning 66-42, to notch their second win in three outings.

Lightning featured another Jamaican Kadie-Ann Dehaney.

Fever top the standings with 12 points, two clear of second-place Thunderbirds with Melbourne Vixens and Lightning both third on eight points.