The Adelaide Thunderbirds have pulled off an almighty upset, handing the West Coast Fever their first loss of the Super Netball season with a thrilling 64-63 win on Sunday.
Reigning premiers the Fever had won their first five games of the season but faced their toughest task yet against the Thunderbirds, who have emerged as a serious contender in 2023.
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The Fever led 20-17 after the first quarter and won every term except the last quarter, which the Thunderbirds won 19-13 as they hit the lead right on the buzzer.
With Jamaican defensive duo Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson snaring plenty of interceptions and deflections, the Thunderbirds had their chances to take the lead in the third quarter.
But they missed a handful of shots as the Fever took a five-point lead into three quarter time and it looked like the reigning premiers would surge to yet another victory.
However Adelaide kicked into another gear, trimming the deficit to just one point with less than a minute to play.
The Thunderbirds could have tied the scores at 63-63 with a one-pointer and hoped for a draw, but they opted to maintain possession around circle edge and run out the clock, aiming to snatch victory with a last-gasp Super Shot.
And they did just that. Eleanor Cardwell drained a two-pointer as the clock ran out to put the Thunderbirds up by one point and end the Fever’s unbeaten streak.
It was a clutch finish by the Thunderbirds and Cardwell, with the England Roses shooter proving why she was predicted by many to be the recruit of the season.
In total, she shot 8/14 Super Shots as the Thunderbirds put together a superb all-round team performance to show the Fever can be beaten.
It was Adelaide’s first ever win at Perth’s RAC Arena and sends a message they are serious premiership contenders this year.
“So many questions about the Adelaide Thunderbirds and if this was the year for them,” Cath Cox said on Fox Netball’s Pivot.
“And that has answered a lot of those questions for me. To be able to stand up over there under the pressure of playing No. 1 and get a win in the dying seconds no less, that screams a premiership winning side for me.”
Remarkably, the Thunderbirds haven’t made the finals of Super Netball/ANZ Championship since 2013 — the year they won their last premiership.
They are now just two points behind the Fever on the ladder and set to break that finals drought.
In other results, the Swifts defeated the Vixens by one goal to move into third, while the Firebirds recorded their first win of the season against the Giants.
Super Netball Round 6 wraps up with Collingwood taking on Sunshine Coast Lightning on ANZAC Day.
Round 6 results
NSW Swifts 67 def Melbourne Vixens 66
Queensland Firebirds 70 def Giants 66
Adelaide Thunderbirds 64 def West Coast Fever 63
Collingwood vs Sunshine Coast Lightning — Tuesday 1pm AEST