Fever break Kia Magic’s winning streak
Kia Magic struggled to contain a physical West Coast Fever, the Perth based team showing their rising prospects for the second straight week when upsetting the defending champions 57-51 on Sunday.
In a completely dominant performance, Fever broke Kia Magic’s unbeaten 14-game streak while also registering their first ever win over the New Zealand team.
There was a lot to be impressed about with Fever’s play today, the home team building on an excellent defensive effort where persistent contesting paid off. That transferred to the attack end, the confidence rising to an extent where they held sway across all facets.
With Fever powering out to as much as a 16-goal lead during the third quarter, Kia Magic who struggled with their attacking links throughout, made a late bid, going on to play their best netball during the final quarter to peg back the deficit but it was all too little too late.
In a rare move, Kia Magic shooter Irene van Dyk, was damning in her post-match comments and clearly unhappy with the rough-house tactics employed against her.
The normally positive, whether winning or losing, evergreen shooter said it was the most physical match she had ever played in, raising the on-going thorny issue of the differing umpiring interpretations encountered on either side of the Tasman and whether any action will result.
After a great start, it all unravelled for Kia Magic, defender Eboni Beckford-Chambers inspiring a stunning first half for the home team.
Several successful blocks on Kia Magic attempts at goal from the England import helped lift Fever to new levels as they roared into life with a huge swing in momentum. Beckford-Chambers and Josie Janz put huge pressure on the Kia Magic shooting duo of Irene van Dyk and Jess Waitapu, picking off a number of turnovers as the home team went on a 10-goal unanswered scoring spree.
In contrast, Kia Magic could make no impact on attack, Ashleigh Brazil doing a fine job at wing defence in stalling the visitor’s momentum while Verity Simmons delivered a perfect service to Caitlin Bassett under the hoop.
Kia Magic’s woes were further compounded when Waitapu was forced off with injury, her replacement Ellen Halpenny unable to make much difference as Fever skipped out to a 15-9 lead at the first break.
Things got considerably worse for the visitors, who were clearly rattled and unable to sink their goals on the resumption. It was a different story for Fever, veteran campaigner Catherine Cox and Bassett proving unstoppable as they made their opponents pay for a mounting number of turnovers.
Under the pump, Kia Magic could make no inroads, presenting Fever with numerous opportunities from simple errors. The home team made no race of their ability to get crisp clean ball through court with a seamless supply to the shooters.
Reducing Kia Magic to just a 61 percent success rate in the goal circle, Fever were riding high at 85 percent with Bassett recording a perfect 17 from 17. The usually successful and reliable van Dyk was reduced to just seven goals from 10 attempts for Kia Magic as Fever waltzed into the main break well placed at 29-19.
There was no halting the Fever momentum during the third stanza, the outstanding Beckford-Chambers having a hand in everything as she continued to create havoc in the Kia Magic circle. Try as they might, the visitors could do nothing to arrest the carnage.
Winning the possession battle, Fever dominated across the court, their confidence sky-high as Cox and Bassett were seamless under the hoop. Kia Magic struggled mightily in their own goal circle, unable to convert their opportunities on the back of too many basic errors.
Fever remained rampant, building on their slick transition and an abundance of ball to march to an imperious and match-winning 45-31 lead at the last break.
