Mwawi’s Vixen lose grand final
Australia-based netball star Mwawi Kumwenda’s team Vixens saw their rosy world crumble in front of them yesterday when they lost 70-59 to West Coast Fever in the final of the Super Netball Premiership.
A match report by www.brisbanetimes.com.au Fever claimed their first Super Netball title in front of a parochial home crowd in Perth to end a 25-year title drought.
Vixens, the 2020 premiers and 2021 wooden spooners, beat Fever twice in the home-and-away season to claim the minor premiership, but went into Sunday’s decider as the underdog after going down to Fever in the major semi-final last month.
Although Kumwenda converted the most baskets with her 28 for Vixens, the hosts were in total control and led from start to finish, turning a four-point quarter-time lead into six points at half-time and nine points at three-quarter-time.
Reads the report in part: “Goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler starred in the win, shooting 58 goals from 59 attempts, while Sasha Glasgow in goal attack was the other weapon, hitting four of nine Super Shot attempts to go with 26 goal assists.
“The Vixens were unable to stop the Fever, who barely made a slip up. Fowler was incredible, particularly in the third quarter where she held on to a number of long and high entries that would have otherwise gone out.”
The report said it would have required a Herculean effort for the Vixens to turn the grand final around in the final 15 minutes, but the Fever did not open the door for their rivals, as the home crowd lifted them towards their first premiership.
“For Melbourne, the contributors on goal were Mwai Kumwenda with 28, Kiera Austin with 17 and Rahni Samason with two. But the Vixens conceded 24 more penalties, while the Fever collected eight more rebounds,” it stated.
In an interview after the match, Kumwenda expressed disappointment with the loss.
She said: “We tried our best, but it just didn’t go according to plan.
“We fought all the way, but it just wasn’t to be. Congratulations to Fever.”
It was a sweet revenge for Fever who were on the receiving end in 2020 grand final when they lost to Vixens
Fever set their intent early in the decider, finishing the first quarter with an 18-14 lead. They demonstrated good team connection and attacking pressure.
