Excitement at Fever-pitch as top netballers enjoy Pilbara hospitality

The State’s top netballers played in front of a capacity crowd at Wanangkura Stadium at the weekend.

As well as two thrilling pre-season matches between the West Coast Fever and the West Coast Thunder men’s open team, locals were treated to a dress presentation by Shooting Stars students from Port Hedland Senior High School and a clinic on the Saturday afternoon after game one.

West Coast Fever head coach Dan Ryan said he wanted to thank those behind the scenes.

“On behalf of the club, I want to thank Fortescue, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural industries and the Town of Hedland for their support to bring elite netball to Port Hedland,” he said.

“We hope that our Pilbara Green Army fans enjoyed the spectacle of the two matches between Fever and the West Coast Thunder men’s open team.

“It was great to showcase elite women’s and men’s netball in front of the local netball community. Hopefully the outstanding performances from both teams will help inspire some of the young fans to dream big and emulate their heroes.

“This weekend has been a great start to our pre-season matches. We’ve learnt a lot and can’t wait to get to Melbourne and Sydney to take on our Suncorp Super Netball rivals in the coming weeks.”

In the first pre-season game, Fever overcame an 11-goal half-time deficit to produce a dominant third quarter which brought them right back into the contest.

They continued the momentum in the final quarter to hit the lead for the first time in the match with 11 minutes left to play. Thunder were able to rally and regain control in the latter stages to secure a three-goal win.

The Fever defensive trio of Sunday Aryang, Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney were solid, and the experience of Alice Teague-Neeld and captain Jess Anstiss in the midcourt was important. Superstar goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard was in great form, while goal attack Max Denholm was the standout performer for Thunder.

Game two saw Fever enjoy a one-goal thriller against the Thunder men’s open team.

The game was an arm wrestle throughout, but the Thunder dominated the super-shot periods in each quarter.

Fever youngster Olivia Wilkinson was not to be outdone from range, nailing several attempts throughout the first half before Jamaican international Shanice Beckford took over the goal attack role in the second half.

The game was a special occasion for the Aryang sisters, Sunday and Ruth, who stepped on to the court in the green dress together for the first time. It was also the first time two sets of sisters were on the court together with the Aryangs joined by the Cransberg twins, Jordan and Zoe.

Denholm and fellow GA Dravyn Lee-Tauroa led the way for the men’s team, with both exceptional from super-shot range.