Match Report
England Netball
England Netball
Jamaica continued their fine run of form with a comfortable victory over the hosts in the second match of the afternoon session. The tactic of playing the direct ball to Jhaniele Fowler, coupled with England’s inability to find the net ensured that Anna Mayes’ side now face an uncomfortable wait on the result of the South Africa and Australia match.
There was a great atmosphere in the Echo Arena as the match got underway with the crowd eager to cheer England onto a second victory in a row. However, Jamaica had shown how dangerous an opposition they are by clinching a win over New Zealand earlier in the day. Fowler and Vanessa Walker combined to great effect in the circle, while at the other end Pamela Cookey and Rachel Dunn were struggling to find their range as three shot in succession threatened to drop in but failed to do so. Jamaica took the first quarter 5 – 4.
England came out all guns firing in the second quarter with the movement in the mid-court opening up spaces to ease the transition into the attacking circle. Some great feeds were working their way in and England pulled ahead for the first time. At the other Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Stacey Francis were putting the pressure on Fowler and trying to stop the shooter from gobbling up the rebounds. A miss from Cookey allowed the Sunshine Girls to again win the quarter by a goal and at half-time it was 10 – 8 to the visitors.
Both team managers stood ominously over the Powerplay button in a game of chicken, but neither took the option to play their cards and it was normal scoring in the third. Playing their third match of the day, tired legs were bound to play a part for the hosts and as the game slowed slightly, mistakes became more common. Nadine Bryan was also playing an exceptional game as the main link from defence to attack and she played her role expertly. Jade Clarke and Sara Bayman were shuffling roles and the shooters were all given a fair crack of the whip in the circle. Long shots from Jo Harten and Kadeen Corbin fell short and for the third time in a row Jamaica won the six minutes by a solitary goal, 15 – 12.
Powerplay ensued and there was always a chance with some long range efforts that England could make a comeback but the tactics of Fast Net are not that simple. With the four point attempts comes the greater risk of a miss and a shot under the post in response from the opposition can punish you severely. Unfortunately, this is exactly what occurred as the Sunshine kept the scoreboard ticking over, England became more desperate. Yells of shoot from the crowd encouraged the attack to chance their arm but ultimately it was the visitors who had outfoxed their hosts.