West Coast Fever (53) def Melbourne Vixens (47) 7 Apr 2015
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
- Wyatt claims title Sport
Media Release
Monday 6 April 2015
Official Result & Statistics
Official Result: West Coast Fever (53) def Melbourne Vixens (47)
The West Coast Fever juggernaut has kept on rolling, this time over the top of reigning ANZ Champions the Melbourne Vixens, 53-47, to remain unbeaten and in control of the Australian Conference.
Before a fired-up sell-out crowd in Perth’s HBF Stadium, the Fever beat the Vixens for the first time since 2010 and successfully defended the Challenge Trophy in the process.
It was in no way one-way traffic for the home side though, as the Vixens surged in the second spell to briefly hold the lead.
But through the experience head and hands of Natalie Medhurst, the Fever held their composure for a rare win over the Melbourne side – their fifth victory of the season.
From the outset, the Fever came out all guns blazing, which seemed to catch the Vixens off-guard.
Erena Mikaere and April Letton’s maturing relationship in defence paid major dividends early, rattling the Vixen’s shooting circle and helping the Fever break out to a 7-2 lead halfway through the quarter.
The difference between the two sides grew out to seven goals as Caitlin Bassett and Medhurst made every single shot count. While the Fever had a few hiccups in the midcourt, the Vixens failed to convert them into points, and they found themselves trailing 12-6 at the first break.
But the Vixens proved what a champion outfit they are, scoring the first four goals of the second term through a switch of shooting bibs seeking better movement – Bailey moving out to goal attack and Tegan Philip looking at ease at goal shooter.
There was a switch in power at the other end too - the Fever taking more than four minutes to add to their score with Bassett wobbling under intense attention from Mentor. Five minutes in, and the Vixens had drawn level.
The Fever’s response was to move Mikaere to the bench and introduce Josie Janz-Dawson to the defensive line-up. But still the Vixens maintained control, streaking out to a three-goal advantage thanks to the sure hands of Philip.
Medhurst, still maintaining her perfect record, stepped up her shooting contribution to keep the Fever in the mix in the dying minutes of the half, and a diving Shae Brown steal midcourt allowed the Fever to snatch a 22-20 lead as the teams headed to the dressing rooms.
The Fever continued that momentum at the restart, scoring five in a row, and suddenly the lead was out to six; Medhurst and wing attack Khao Watts threading the ball into Bassett with more authority, easing some of the pressure off their lofty shooter.
Meanwhile, Philip and Bailey, switched back to their old positions again, found it tough-going against Janz-Dawson and Letton.
Maintaining the six-goal buffer, and ensuring the Fever finished the quarter up 38-32, Bassett also notched up a personal milestone with the 3500th goal in her ANZ Championship career.
The Vixens’ renowned fighting spirit was still alive in the final quarter, and they had halved the deficit within minutes through an upsurge of defence and some nicely measured passing from Robinson in to Bailey.
With five minutes remaining, the Fever still in front, the home side looked to add height to their defence with Mikaere back in the fray and the Vixens’ lost Robinson with a knee injury.
But it was the Vixens’ who initially benefitted from the shuffle. But Medhurst’s influence on attack – ending the match with 19 from 20 shots - ensured the Fever held strong, and won by the margin they established in their outstanding opening quarter.
Fever shooting
statistics:
Caitlin Bassett 34/42
(81%)
Natalie Medhurst 19/20 (95%)
Vixens
shooting statistics:
Karyn Bailey 25/29
(86%)
Tegan Philip 22/27 (81%)
Chemist Warehouse MVP: Ashleigh Brazill (Fever)
END
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more