Sunshine Girls force London decider
Published:Sunday | January 15, 2023 | 12:36 AMKeith McGhie - Contributor
THE SUNSHINE Girls bravely battled back from Wednesday’s disappointing first test defeat to square the three-match series with England by beating their hosts 61-58 at the Copper Box Arena in London yesterday.
In complete contrast to the opening encounter, this time it was Jamaica who overturned a sizeable early deficit to power ahead by half-time and on this occasion maintained their momentum for the remainder of the 60 minutes.
After letting a nine-goal lead slip and ultimately conceding 73 goals – the Vitality Roses’ highest ever tally in matches between the two nations – head coach Connie Francis was able to name an unchanged starting line-up, while England made three changes, leaving captain Natalie Metcalf and most-capped ever centre, Jade Clarke, awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list, on the bench.
Confidence was bound to have been knocked, having lost by 21 goals in Manchester three days ago. Jamaica faced a buoyant Vitality Roses and another partisan capacity crowd of 7,000.
As in the first clash, captain Jhaniele Fowler, who shook off a back twinge to play, was dangerous, boasting a 100 per cent scoring record from 56 efforts. And just as she did in the first clash, Fowler opened the scoring for the Sunshine Girls and the game, but, unlike three days’ prior, the Vitality Roses refused to fall far adrift and took a 7-5 advantage midway through the first period.
Nicola Dixon-Rochester, who aggravated a knee ligament problem in the first game, was again forced off early but, with the aid of medical attention, repeatedly and courageously re-entered the contest.
Fowler’s precision in the circle kept Jamaica’s side of the scoreboard ticking over, while goal keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney made some important blocks and intercepts even as England’s attainment of turnovers and cleaner approach work earned them a comfortable 18-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
But Fowler and goal attack Shanice Beckford helped eat away at the deficit and, in a complete reversal of the first encounter, Jamaica fought back to edge ahead six minutes into the second quarter.
Gaining momentum, the girls in gold, green and black capitalised on unforced errors to gain a 10-point turnaround during the quarter (19-9) to forge ahead 31-27 at half-time.
England brought Metcalf in at goal attack just before the break and Clarke joined the fray to add further experience immediately afterwards, but the Sunshine Girls extended the gap to 10 goals as they continually managed to keep the Roses at bay.
Olivia Tchine, inheriting the role of England’s goal shooter in the absence of Jo Harten, proved accurate enough to keep the home side in contention, as Francis continually injected freshness by rotating her squad and the teams went into the last quarter with the tourists leading 48-41.
Nerves began to fray as the hosts closed to within three and the crowd sensed a late comeback and ramped up the noise. Though England would close to within two, the Sunshine Girls clung on for a hard-earned victory.
Wing attack Khadijah Williams, who was fast and accurate throughout and named Vitality ‘Player of the Match’, summed up her side’s success, saying:
“It was a tough loss on Wednesday and Connie told us we had to dig ourselves out of the hole we had put ourselves in and play our best … and our best was good enough today.”
Francis added: “I’m overwhelmed and so proud of the girls’ effort.
“We still let ourselves down at some points of the game but we came out with a spirited effort and there was a lot of thought processes behind every ball.
“The team is coping (with injuries and absentees) and when Nicole is coming on and off the court, it is a learning process for some of the youngsters.
In contrast Roses coach Jess Thirlby said:
“We are really disappointed, especially having dug deep and found a way to come back into the game and close to a couple of points three times in the final quarter, having lost the second quarter in the style that we did.
“We found out a lot about ourselves – some of which was positive but spilling the ball off of unforced errors is criminal.
“Their desire to stay in the series was greater than ours to win it and it tells individuals as well as the collective a lot about where we need to find some more for tomorrow (the deciding third test at the same venue, which begins at 9 a.m. Jamaican time).”
AT A GLANCE
Substitutes: Jade Clarke, Natalie Metcalf (C), Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, Laura Malcolm, Francesca Williams.
Goals: Tchine 44/47 (94%), Housby 7/7 (100%), Drakeford-Lewis 7/7 (100%).
Total Interceptions: 8
Total Turnovers: 14
Jamaica: 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 56/56, (100%), Beckford 5/7 (71%)
Total Interceptions: 7
Total Turnovers: 14