Match Report
England Netball
England Netball
Many spectators would argue that this could well be a chance for South Africa to snatch a win and potentially break into the top four. AS it turned out the Jamaican attack would not allow it and pushed their team forward with an exceptional display and a flurry of goals.
The first quarter started off competitively with both sides launching wave after wave of attack and were treating an already excitable crowd to a feast of aggressive netball. Scores were traded and the match was being played out at a lightning pace. A miss from the Proteas GA in the final second gave the Sunshine Girls a somewhat flattering three goal advantage as they headed off court leading 7 – 4.
Jamaica came out all guns blazing in the second quarter with the direct tactic of feeding lanky shooter Jhaniele Fowler in the final third providing a great source of free flowing scoring. South Africa couldn’t respond and with more and more balls finding their way to the Jamaican goal machine, the lead increased. As the teams took half-time, Jamaica were 16 – 10 in front.
The third quarter, of course, signalled Powerplay from both sides. Fowler was teaming up nicely with Vanessa Walker, with the latter sinking shot after shot when being fed in the circle. South Africa were being forced to go for the long range four pointers, and were unlucky to see some rattle of the ring and just fail to drop. Jamaica punished with a string of easy two pointers and if it were not for an exceptional maximum in the last seconds from the Proteas, the score line would have read a lot harsher. 32 – 22 to the Sunshine Girls moving into the final quarter.
The trend continued in the final fifteen minutes as the crowd grew more energetic, with the tension building for the England match. Jamaica were subjecting their opponents to a master class in shooting with Walker the head teacher. The Sunshine Girls bounced off court with a resounding victory and the yellow bows in their hair still intact. Just as Fiji in the previous game, South Africa would need to pick themselves up and return later in the evening.