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

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The giants of Northern Hemisphere netball met once again in the Cook Islands’ clash, after similar scenarios at the 2003 and 2007 senior World Championships and the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, 2006.
Jamaica dominated the game in its early stages, despite star player Romelda Aiken being benched with a knee injury from the semi-finals.
But the English defence was slick with captain Eboni Beckford Chambers combining expertly with Stacey Francis to pressure the Jamaican attack – still highly effective without Aiken.
The quarter ended 11 goals each, and England switched goal shooter Jo Harten with Monique Wood at goal attack.
Jamaica responded to England’s strong performance by bringing Romelda Aiken on at GS, with her knee heavily strapped.
The game continued neck and neck until Jamaica called an injury time break at 20 – 22 up, but it was England who made changes with Serena Guthrie moving forward to centre and Sarah Jane O’Sullivan from C to WA.
The change disrupted England’s flow and Jamaica seized the opportunity to build a 21 – 26 lead before half-time.
Fans were treated to a spectacular tussle beneath the Jamaican goal with Aiken – twice voted most valuable player in the senior Trans-Tasman ANZ Championships – and Beckford Chambers who tipped several aerial balls away from the shooter and forced her into errors.
For the third quarter, England reverted to their starting seven and picked up the pace with a stunning effort from the whole team, urged on by the bench and a loud crowd wanting to see a tight finish.

England drew level at 32 goals each before finishing the quarter just behind at 32 – 34.
There were no team changes for the final 15 minutes, which saw Jo Harten suffer a foot injury.

Ella Clark was subbed in to shoot, and she responded well amid intense pressure, snatching rebounds and seizing stray balls.
But it was Jamaica who had the upper hand, maintaining a lead that only increased in the last moments. The final score of England 42 Jamaica 48 destroyed the medal dreams of the young English side.

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They comfortably took every quarter before galloping to a 75-24 triumph, to pick up their second victory on a trot in the tournament after mauling the United States 108-11 on Tuesday.

Jamaica were led by Christina Solmon, who shot 46 from 54 attempts, while Crystal Gordon finished with 22 from 27 attempts.

For the losers, Pei Qin Yeo led with nine goals from 12 attempts, while Charmaine Soh knocked down eight from 14 attempts.

Trinidad & Tobago, meanwhile, suffered contrasting fortunes when they were walloped by New Zealand, 89-31.
The Young Silver Ferns won every quarter, posting a 23-10 lead at the end of the first quarter before consolidating to be ahead 47-16 at the break.

New Zealand outscored T&T 21-5 in the third quarter to lead 68-21 before cantering to an easy win.

For the winners, Paula Griffin shot 64 from 69 attempts, while Alanah Cassidy finished with 21 from 27 attempts.

T&T were led by Joelisa Cooper, who was good for 13 from 18 attempts, and Adasha Norton, who scored 12 from 17 attempts.

Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago were scheduled to face each other yesterday

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Jamaica romped to a 61-47 win over South Africa in the final game to secure the NCB Sunshine Savers Tri Nation Netball series. The game played at the National Indoor Sports Center in Jamaica saw Romelda Aiken shooting well from  the floor and asserting her dominance early. The South Africans were not going to go down without a fight, however, and at one stage whittled Jamaica’s lead down to 2 points before key substitutions down the stretch saw the girls retaking their advantage. The squads were as follows:

Jamaica – Simone Forbes (GA, GS, captain), Romelda Aiken (GS), Nadine Bryan (C, WA), Paula Thompson (WD), Nicole Aiken (GK), Vanessa Walker (WA), Althea Byfield (GD, GK) Substitutes: Christina Solmon (GA), Tracey-Ann Robinson (C), Malysha Kelly (GD), Not Used: Malysha Kelly, Sateva Taylor, Christina Solmon, Sabrina Spence, Vanessa Walker, Tracey-Ann Robinson

South Africa – Liezel Wium (captain, C), Claudia Basson (GS), Tsakane Mbewe (GA), Precious Mthembu (WD), Amanda Mynhardt (GK, GD), Zanele Mdodane (WA), Simone van Heerden (GD) Substitutes: Zukelwa Cwaba, Refiloe Mochaka, Mary Ngwenya, Erin Burger, Nontle Gwavu

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“The sport was, at that point, in a fledgling stage, so while starting from scratch was not necessary, items like the GNAs constitution and their strategic plan needed to be reworked.”

As next steps Ms. Beckett stated that apart from those fundamental changes in organization, the GNA will attempt to organize tours of other Caribbean territories so as to gain greatly needed competition-level experience.

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Top scorers were Sharelle McMahon and Catherine Cox for the Aussies with 33 and Romelda Aiken for the Jamaicans with 38. Game 2 will be played on Sunday in Sydney.

The girls are using the tour as preparation for the World Championships to be held in New Zealand later this year in November.

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