Sunshine Girls overturn Australia in Fast5 opener

THE SUNSHINE Girls bid to enjoy a better go at the Fast5 World Netball Series than they had last time out got off to an auspicious start yesterday in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Jamaicans coming from behind to clip Australia 38-36.

Playing against the World Champions in the first game of three scheduled to take place between last night and this morning (Christchurch is 18 hours ahead of Jamaica), the Jamaicans benefited from 10 big goals from Gezelle Allison at goal attack. England-based Rhea Dixon had five goals from five attempts from goal shoot. Two goals came from Amanda Pinkney off the bench, with the team’s captain, Romelda Aiken-George, also rising from the bench to notch two goals.

Australia’s Lucy Austin shot nine from 13 and Sophie Fawns had five from 12, while Tippah Dwan scored six and Georgie Horjus had five goals to her name.

Australia led 10-7 after the first stanza, before roaring into the half with a 25-14 lead.

The Jamaicans made some adjustments at halftime that seemed to have paid off, outscoring the Diamonds 13-7 to leave the game interestingly poised at 32-27.

The Jamaicans would destroy the five-point gap, outscoring the Australians 11-4 to come away with a famous victory.

The Sunshine Girls were scheduled to play Malawi at 9:30 last night and South Africa at 12:30 this morning.

Sunshine Girls squad: Romelda Aiken (captain), Adean Thomas (vice-captain), Gezelle Allison, Theresa Beckford, Rhea Dixon, Abbeygail Linton, Amanda Pinkney, Crystal Plummer, Kimone Shaw, Abigaile Sutherland