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West Coast Fever vs Sunshine Coast Lightning |
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2018 Super Netball Grand Final |
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Perth Arena | ||
West Coast Fever | Sunshine Coast Lightning | |
59 | SCORE | 62 |
The Sunshine Coast Lightning have been crowned back-to-back Super Netball champs after a thrilling three-goal win over the West Coast Fever.
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Final score
West Coast Fever 59
Sunshine Coast Lightning 62
Here we are, on the final day of the Super Netball season, the West Coast Fever will go head-to-head with the Sunshine Coast Lightning at Perth Arena. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 1pm AEST.
It has been a spectacular recovery by the West Coast Fever, who finished second-to-last and won just one game in 2017.
New coaching and support staff have turned this team into a top contender, and the recruitment of Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler could well take this team all the way.
The Fever earned their place in their first grand final with a six-goal victory over the Giants in the semi-final.
Their opponent, the Sunshine Coast Lightning, have won their last six games to be in this position and are going for back-to-back championships.
After the thrill of winning the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball season, the Lightning had a slow start to 2018, but are now primed to tackle the Fever in the final game of the year.
Sunshine Coast first defeated their Queensland rivals – the Firebirds – in the semis, before ending minor-round champions the Giants’ dreams in the preliminary final last weekend by nine goals.
Expect to watch the two starting line-ups battle it out from start to finish, as neither side really use their bench; the Fever average 5.3 positional changes per game, the Lightning just 2.6 changes on average.
The match-ups are intriguing all over the court, but the two battles in the goal circles at either end will be brilliant to watch.
Jhaniele Fowler and Geva Mentor will once again compete, as they have many times at domestic and international level, while national teammates – Courtney Bruce and Caitlin Bassett – will become foes for 60 minutes.
These two teams met twice during the regular season and on both occasions, the Fever won by just one goal (Round 3 56-55 and Round 10 58-59).
This is sure to be a close one, so switch on to Channel Nine and tune in for an hour-long, high-intensity battle between the Fever and the Lightning.
Prediction
On form, Sunshine Coast look the better side with six wins on the trot and the finals experience to get the job done.
But it won’t be that easy, with everyone in Perth and Western Australia behind the girls in the green dresses after an impressive season in 2018.
There is every chance this could go to extra time and if it does, the thousands of home supporters will help the Fever take their first title.
West Coast Fever by two goals.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 1pm AEST.