General Details
25 Nov 2011 13:40PM
Echo Arena Liverpool
3000
Sky Sports 4 - 1.30pm
Match Report
England Netball
England Netball
Australia got the World Netball Series underway with a fantastic performance against the Sunshine Girls, eventually running out 28 – 18 winner. The Diamonds were much the quicker out of the block with Kate Beveridge and Susan Pratley in imperious form. At the end of the first quarter the Aussies had already sailed into a 6 – 4 lead.
The pattern seemed to repeat itself in the second quarter as the Diamonds controlled possession and forced the Jamaicans into more creative thinking. However, passes failed to find their target and rebounds were being gobbled up by the Australian defensive line. At half-time the Diamonds were much the happier with the 12 – 7 score.
Powerplay’s were taken by both sides for the third quarter and the excitement was obvious in the stands. Each attempt was roared on as an impartial crowd were loving the Fast Net action. Jamaica were desperately seeking a foothold on twice missed big four point attempts and in doing so turned the ball over to the predatory Aussies. Going for the more conventional shots from the circle was paying dividend for the Diamonds and they soon stretched the lead to 24 – 15.
A more subdued final quarter followed with the result everything but confirmed and the Sunshine Girls faded away upon realising defeat was ominous. Some scrappy passages of play were witnessed with the ball flying off the court as passes became looser. With the job done, Australia could relax and conserve energy, whilst Jamaica would do the same with more battle on court to occur later in the day. The crowd made the 10 second countdown and the umpires signalled the end of the match to the Diamonds delight.