The Melbourne Vixens have defeated ladder-leading West Coast Fever by 14 goals, in a high-intensity match at Hisense Arena.
It was a dominating second quarter that set the Vixens up for the win, scoring 26 goals to the Fever’s 13 for the period - the highest quarter scored in Suncorp Super Netball this year.
The Fever came out firing in the second half, claiming a bonus point for the third quarter.
The margin got as close as nine goals in the final quarter with the Vixens able to maintain their composure to claim the win and the final bonus point.
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis said she is happy with the team’s performance.
“To get seven points against Fever with how well they’ve been playing particularly, I'm just impressed by the way we went into the game and really worked ourselves against the four quarters,” McKinnis said.
“They’ve been working really hard towards the netball that they know they're capable of producing, and they saw the rewards of that tonight.”
McKinnis said that it is not an easy job to defeat a team like Fever.
“There is no easy way of beating that sort of team, it is just doing the hard work, the one-on-one, the hands over and you’re doing it again and again until you start to create those balls that are off.”
Tasked with the huge job of tackling the league’s most prolific shooter, Jhaniele Fowler, defenders Emily Mannix and Jo Weston impressed, being able to disrupt the Fever’s attack.
Vixens' goal shooter, Tegan Philip, was awarded the Nissan Most Valuable Player award, scoring 25 goals for the match.
The Vixens now turn their sights to cross-town rivals, the Magpies, in the second instalment of #TheBattle next Sunday.
Match report with thanks to Melbourne Vixens.
