Defending Super Netball champions West Coast Fever have opened the new season with consecutive nail-biting wins after surviving a late barrage from the Giants to complete a dramatic 74-73 victory.
The Fever held a 63-52 lead heading into the final quarter of Sunday's clash at Ken Rosewall Arena but deadly long-range shooting saw the home side draw level in the final minute to leave them on the verge of an improbable comeback win.
Giants attackers Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer combined for 15 two-point Super shots in the match with Harten's seventh of the game locking the scores at 73-73 but the Fever used up valuable time on their next possession before setting up Jhaniele Fowler for the go-ahead score with 17 seconds to play.
The Giants made one final push to swing the result but Jess Anstiss collected the game-sealing intercept as the Fever backed up their one-goal win in last week's grand final rematch against Melbourne Vixens with another composed finish.
"We've practised them a few times and definitely had a nice practise against the Vixens last week so we're pretty well adept in this scenario," Fever midcourter Alice Teague-Neeld said about her side's ability to control the play and remain calm late in the game.
Fowler (59 goals) maintained her perfect start to the campaign, the Jamaican scoring machine yet to miss a shot after two rounds, while Teague-Neeld (33 feeds and 26 assists) continues to blossom since her shift to wing attack last season.
Inspirational captain Harten and midcourter Maddie Hay made timely returns from injury after an understrength Giants squad dropped their opening game of the season by 15 goals against Sunshine Coast Lightning.
But not even a full-strength Giants lineup could prevent the Fever from opening their championship defence with back-to-back wins despite the efforts of Dwyer (8-of-10 Super shots) and Jamie-Lee Price (34 feeds and three intercepts).
West Coast closed a high-scoring opening quarter with a 21-20 advantage then took advantage of unforced Giants turnovers to edge ahead 39-29 with three minutes remaining in the first half.
But the Giants came roaring back with Harten joining with sharp-shooter Dwyer to drill four two-point Super shots and cut the margin to three at the main break.
The home side looked to build on their momentum after halftime, Harten lifting the home crowd with a deft lay-up finish from a Hay intercept early in the third period, but a 13-4 ending to the quarter appeared to put the Fever in the box seat with an 11-goal lead.
The Giants threw everything at West Coast in the closing minutes but fell agonisingly short of their first win of the season and will need to knock off the Vixens in Melbourne next week in order to open their account.
Australian Associated Press
