Match Report
England Netball
England Netball
We have a familiar look to the World Netball Series Final as New Zealand recovered from a couple of defeat’s yesterday to sneak past the Sunshine Girls by the most slender of margins. With a Jamaican victory yesterday, few were willing to predict the outcome of this encounter and, as the score line suggests, it was a tantalisingly tight affair.
The Sunshine Girls edged the opening exchanges with their usual upbeat tempo and were looking strong as they continued the direct and occasionally long feed tactic for Jhaniele Fowler. Vanessa Walker was working well once more alongside her attacking partner and they were able to pull two clear, 7 – 5 at the end of the first quarter.
It was tit for tat in the second quarter as the Jamaican duo in the attacking circle were being countered by the always dangerous Cathrine Latu and Maria Tutaia for the Silver Ferns. Neither side was bossing the action as a cautious quarter ended with the Jamaicans clinging to their advantage, 12 – 10 at half-time.
As in the opening semi-final, both sides used their Powerplay in the third quarter and double scores were up for grabs. With the cautious approach winning over, it was a case of feeding under the post and simply ensuring that the scoreboard continued to tick over rather than going for the more adventurous four point attempts. It was a case of cool heads required and New Zealand have played a few important matches that have gone down to the wire and they used this experience to nudge into a 24 – 22 lead at the end of the Powerplay.
New Zealand simply had to match their opponents score for score and that was definitely the plan as they slowed the play down and worked tirelessly across the court. In the final moments, a rare two pointer from the Sunshine Girls threatened to take the game into additional time but with 30 seconds remaining they were still trailing by one and it was Silver Ferns centre pass. Cue half a minute of exquisite passing and ball retention to ease their way into the final. Jamaica once again thwarted by New Zealand at the semi-final stage as the contest for the top four places in the final standings brings a hint of deja-vu to Liverpool.