NETBALL-Fowler out-shoots Nelson to keep Fever unbeaten.

PERTH, Australia, CMC – Superstar Jhaniele Fowler outshone her Sunshine Girls teammate Shimona Nelson as leaders West Coast Fever continued their unbeaten start to the Australia Super Netball Championship season with a crushing 80-53 victory over Collingwood Magpies last weekend.

Playing at the RAC Arena here on Sunday, Fever dominated the contest to win every quarter and send a stern warning to rivals of their intent to defend their title robustly.

As usual, the 33-year-old Fowler spearheaded the hosts’ attack, scoring 51 goals from 52 attempts in her third straight 50-point effort.

Nelson, who has also enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, finished with a perfect 20 goals from 20 attempts, while Sophie Garbin supported with 14 from 18 shots.

Fever started strongly to lead 18-13 at the end of the first quarter and sustained their momentum in the second quarter to open up a comfortable half-time lead, 37-24.

There was no letup from the hosts in the penultimate quarter, out-scoring the visitors 21-14 before also controlling the fourth quarter with a 22-15 effort.

At Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on Saturday, another Jamaica international, Romelda Aiken-George, took center stage as she helped New South Wales Swift’s edge Queensland Firebirds 74-71.

At the start of the final quarter, the hosts were down by one, 57-58, but pulled out the stops in the last quarter to post their first win of the new season.

Aiken-George, 34, led the winners with 39 goals from 48 attempts, while Helen Housby was excellent with 22 from as many attempts.

Donnell Wallam carried the weight of scoring for the Firebirds, finishing with 60 from 63 attempts.

The game was close from the outset, tied at 20 at the end of the first quarter before Firebirds edged ahead in the second quarter to be up at 40-37 at the break.

Swifts hit back in the third quarter to draw within one before out-scoring Firebirds, 17-13, to get over the line.

In Saturday’s other game at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Adelaide Thunderbirds – featuring Sunshine Girls defenders Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling – trounced Sunshine Coast Lightning 66-42 to notch their second win in three outings.

Lightning featured another Jamaican Kadie-Ann Dehaney. Fever top the standings with 12 points, two clear of second-placed Thunderbirds, with Melbourne Vixens and Lightning both third on eight points.