JAMAICA’S senior netballers crashed 42-53 to England in the first game of the two-Test 2010 Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) last night.
The Jamaicans drew first blood as the returning Romelda Aiken was quick to the draw, a shadow of the former non-assertive player before her days in the highly-competitive ANZ Championships.
Jamaica’s goal-attack Simone Forbes (right) battles England’s Geva Mentor for a loose ball during the first match of their two-Test series at the National Indoor Sports Centre last night. England won the game, (Photo: Jermaine Barnaby)
The teams were fairly evenly-matched at the outset, but unlike previous years when fitness was a clear issue, last night the Sunshine Girls were plagued by unforced errors.
Their struggle to get the ball to its intended target left some spectators watching in bewilderment as passes meant for team members went flying off court.
It helped England take an eight-point lead before the midway point and after taking the first quarter, 13-10, they were up 27-19 at the end of the second.
Centre Paula Thompson looks heir apparent to Nadine Bryan who must be close to the end of her international career, while the once-sprightly English goal-attack Pamela Cookey looked decidedly out of sorts while yet managing to lead the scoring.
Substituted newcomer Jhanelle Fowler helped the Jamaicans reduce a deficit which had gone up to 10 points within minutes of the start of the third quarter, but it was a yo-yo affair as the Sunshine Girls started to let it slide and were down by as many as 12 points before Fowler dragged them back to within 10 points as the English girls led after the third quarter, 41-28.
It was England’s 14th victory against the Jamaicans in 25 matches played in the last 19 years.
Jamaica — Romelda Aiken (GS) (Jhanelle Fowler), Simone Forbes (GA) Ana Kay Griffith, Nadine Bryan (WA), Paula Thompson (C), Georgia Gordon (WD), Althea Byfield (GK) , Kasey Evering (GD).
Substitutes: Malysha Kelly, Sasher Gaye Henry, Kimone Tulloch, Anna Kay Griffith, Jhanelle Fowler.
Coach: Connie Francis,
England — Jo Harten (GS) (Rachel Dunn), Pamela Cookey (GA), Tamsin Greenway (WA), Sara Bayman (C) (Karen Atkinson), Jade Clarke (WD), Sonia Mkoloma (GD) (Stacey Francis), Geva Mentor (GK)
Substitutes: Rachel Dunn, Rosie Allison, Karen Atkinson, Stacey Francis, Eboni Beckford-Chambers
Jamaica Netballers lose to England in first game
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