Francis not too down over Sunshine Girls defeat

JAMAICA WERE left with plenty to think about after letting an early nine-goal lead slip to lose the first of three Test matches against England in Manchester yesterday.

Though the game ended 73-52 in favour of the Vitality Roses, it was the Sunshine Girls who got off to the better start, with goal-shooter extraordinaire and captain, Jhaniele Fowler, opening the scoring and her side sprinting into a 4-0 lead with just 120 seconds on the clock.

Vitality Roses’ Goal Attack Helen Housby got the hosts off the mark and helped pull the deficit back to just two points midway through the opening quarter.

Any lack of height that impressive Wing Defence Crystal Plummer – the youngest player on show at just 20 years’ old – and Centre Nicole Dixon-Rochester might have had was amply made up for by industrious foraging in mid-court as Fowler, dominating the circle and using her velcro-like hands to great affect, helped Jamaica into a 19-13 advantage at the end of the first period.

The girls in gold, black, and green extended their lead to 23-14 before England began to regularly find more space, approaching the target and hauling the deficit back to just two goals before Fowler again opened it out to a 34-31 lead at halftime.

England’s more experienced septet began to hit their straps and levelled 37-37 with the help of some carelessness from the tourists.

The Roses’ attack of Helen Housby and Jo Harten edged their side ahead for the first time, 39-38, six minutes into the second half, and while the teams remained close until the start of the final quarter, England, bringing in the equally accurate Olivia Tchine at goal shooter for the closing minutes, began to run away with the game, eventually winning by 21 points.

However, Coach Connie Francis, minus experienced defenders Latanya Wilson and Adelaide Thunderbirds teammate Shamera Sterling, plus Adean Thomas, was not too downhearted as she tries to knit her remaining established stars with the many new faces.

“I’m proud of the effort they put in, especially early on.

“England are an experienced team in very good form. They are fit and ready to go whereas we are just starting our preparation and are not fully in match-mode yet.

“I think we have to do better in our attack as we let ourselves down at times, becoming flat and stagnant.

“So we must go back to the drawing board and try to fix it.

“The first half went well, but once we started to make changes, we lost momentum.

“I think we will make changes for London - Nicole (Dixon-Rochester) has been carrying an injury, so we had to manage her playing time.

“There were positives, but we have to look at what we have done and what did and didn’t work for us.”

The remaining two Tests are set for the Copperbox Arena in East London on Saturday and Sunday.

Teams

England

Starters: Funmi Fadoju (GK), Layla Guscoth (GD), Imogen Alison (WD), Jade Clarke (C), Natalie Metcalf (WA, capt), Helen Housby (WA), Jo Harten (GS).

Substitutes: Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, Alica Harvey, Chelsea Pitman, Olivia Tchine, Williams Francesca.

Goals: Harten 37/39 (95%), Housby 30/31 (97%), Tchine 6/6 (100%)

Total Interceptions: 9

Total Turnovers: 18

Jamaica

Starters: Kadie-Ann Dehaney (GK), Jodi-Ann Ward (GD), Crystal Plummer (WD), Nicola Dixon-Rochester (C), Khadijah Wiliams (WA), Shanice Beckford (GA). Jhaniele Fowler (GS, capt)

Substitutes: Tafiya Hunter, Malysha Kelly, Shimona Nelson, Rebekah Robinson, Abigale Surtherland.

Goals: Fowler 49/51 (94%), Beckford 4/7 (57%)

Total Interceptions: 6

Total Turnovers: 11