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Super Netball: Marinkovich ‘proud’ of West Coast Fever effort despite loss to Giants

Julian WrightEastern Reporter

WEST Coast Fever head coach Stacey Marinkovich was “proud” of the team’s efforts despite a three-goal loss to Giants Netball yesterday.

The Round 10 clash saw both sides start nervously but Fever captain Nat Medhurst registered the first goal of the contest in her 200th game for an early lead.

Neither team was able to establish a buffer in an end-to-end opening stanza, before Kaylia Stanton’s goal on the quarter time siren gave the home side a solitary goal advantage at the first break.

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The Giants looked a different team when play resumed, scoring five consecutive goals.

A tactical time-out saw Fever introduce Kate Beveridge with an almost immediate impact, as the experienced shooter began to cause headaches for the Giants’ defensive end.

Jess Anstiss hauled in two separate interceptions to quell the Giants progress through the midcourt, and saw her shooters regain the lead for Fever at the other end.

The Giants remained patient in their set-up play and dogged in their defence to again go on a run of consecutive scoring shots and quickly skip out to a three-goal margin.

Despite a typical Fever fight back in the closing minutes, the margin proved insurmountable, as the home side fell to a 45-48 defeat at the hands of the second placed Giants.

Marinkovich was pragmatic in her assessment of the game, crediting the ability of her players’ to rally despite the result.

“I was very proud of the fight we showed, particularly in that second quarter to work ourselves back into a wining position,” she said.

“We applied significant pressure across the court, especially at the defensive end where I thought we were very effective in limiting their opportunities.”

The West Coast side’s focus now shifts to a Friday night blockbuster against the NSW Swifts in Sydney, where a win would see Fever leapfrog back into sixth position on the ladder.