Jamaica’s young Sunshine Girls crashed out of the quarterfinal stage of the INF Netball World Youth Cup after going down 55-38 to England earlier today at the University of Botswana.
With memories of a third place loss against Jamaica fresh in their minds from four years ago, England came rushing at the Jamaicans to avoid another loss at this level.
That tactic worked for a few minutes in the opening quarter, as both teams got into a slugfest and a real pull and grab for every loose ball, and when England jumped to a 6-4 lead, Jamaica came storming back to level at 6 with 5 minutes 13 seconds to play , thanks to back to back goals from Shooter Shimona Nelson. The quarter ended 10-8 with England a shade in front.
In the ensuing battle on court, England’s Goal attack Chiara Semple was taken off as she hit the floor hard in a fall after battling for a loose ball with Goal Attack Hasana Williams just outside the shooting circle.
Semple was later stretchered out of the stadium, with a twisted ankle and could hardly walk. The immediate prognosis of her medical condition was not known up to sports time.
Despite Semple’s absence England maintained their attack. The 16 turnovers in the first half was far too many for the Young Sunshine Girls team and with England’s Georgina Fisher’s shooting accuracy they ended the second quarter 26-17 in front.
The Jamaican coaching staff made two changes with Simone Gordon coming in for Shimona Nelson in the goal shooting position, and Wing attack Carla Lee Tingling rested to make way for Titania Blackstock, but that did little to slow the opponents who continued their good showing by taking the third quarter 41-28, before later wrapping up the contest 55-38.
Nelson and Hasana Williams both top scored with 13 goals each for Jamaica. Nelson’s tally accumulated from 14 attempts, and Williams tally accumulated from 18 tries, while Gordon added 12 goals from 13 tries. Jamaica finished with an 84.4 percent shooting average.
Jamaica will now play Scotland in the fifth place playoff tomorrow at 10 am here in Botswana, or 3 am Jamaica time.
Meanwhile England progressed to the semi-final to face Australia, and Defending champions New Zealand will meet Fiji in the other semi-final contest.