Thunderbirds smash Firebirds and soar into top spot
Adrian Warren |
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have made a powerful statement to their Super Netball rivals with a crushing 65-45 away win over West Coast Fever in Perth.
The result moved Adelaide to the top of the ladder on percentage above the unbeaten Melbourne Vixens, who play the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday.
Both the Vixens and Thunderbirds are two wins ahead of third-placed Fever, whose three losses this season have been against those two teams.
Fever suffered their biggest loss of the campaign despite having all 10 of their contracted players available for the first time this season.
In the battle between the two milestone players and Jamaican compatriots, Thunderbirds defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey had more impact than Fever shooter Romelda Aiken-George (34/44).
Sterling-Humphrey, making her 100th league appearance, notched 11 deflections, five gains and three rebounds.
Aiken-George, who equalled former Diamonds shooter Cath Cox’s league record of 254 games, made three Super shots for just the second time in her illustrious career.
“I know when I come up against ‘Didi’ (Aiken-George), there’s always the argy-bargy and I really like that, so it’s game on whenever we’re playing each other,” Sterling-Humphrey told Fox and Kayo.
Coming off a five-day turnaround after winning on the Sunshine Coast last Sunday, Fever were comprehensively outplayed after a close start.
The Thunderbirds stretched a three-goal lead at quarter-time to 10 by the half after outscoring Fever 14-7 in the second.
The deficit never dipped back into single digits, with a 10-4 run to three-quarter time in Adelaide’s favour swelling their advantage to 16.
Thunderbirds scored eight more goals from gains than Fever and made only half as many turnovers and conceded 22 fewer penalties.
Fever shot at just over 72 per cent and Adelaide at just under 89 per cent.
Adelaide’s prolific South African shooter Elmere van der Berg (58/62) produced another outstanding performance, converting 92 per cent of her attempts, including her one Super Shot.
‘I’m very happy with the performance we put out there tonight,” van der Berg told Fox Sports and Kayo.
“It’s nice to stick to our game plan and just add a few things here and there to secure the win.”
AAP