Sunshine Girls hit by injuries

Head coach Connie Francis has additional concerns over injuries to key players as the Sunshine Girls bid to bounce back from their 73-52 first Test defeat when they again take on England’s Vitality Roses at the Copperbox Arena in London today at 9:15 a.m. (Jamaican time).

The major concern surrounds centre Nicole Dixon-Rochester who is awaiting the result of an MRI scan on her knee taken yesterday.

She was taken off during the first half in Manchester at the opening encounter of the three-match series and is unlikely to start.

Doubts also exist over the fitness of star goal-shooter Jhaniele Fowler – the Suncorp Super League of Australia’s five times ‘Player of the Year’ – who picked up a back niggle at the AO Arena, plus Khadijah Williams who has a shin problem.

On the positive side ferociously hard-working 20-year- old Crystal Plummer is likely to retain her place at wing defence.

“We have to make sure that some of the things Crystal was called for do not happen as she needs to be more careful but she was really one of the bright spots of the game and will almost certainly start again,” Francis said yesterday

Francis was conscious that the temperature on the court was cooler than ideal but refused to make any excuses about the conditions, after her Jamaican side let an early nine-goal advantage slip – crashing 24-5 in the final quarter – to lose by 21 points overall.

“I don’t think that (the temperature) was a factor because we are used to it and know we have to keep warm.

“When we have played at Nottingham in the past it has been very cold (due to the court being built on top of an existing ice rink), so most of the girls are used to it.

“We let ourselves down because we were doing well and we must make sure that we play better for a longer next time.

“England were at a high with their fitness level, while we have players coming back from injury and, if anybody, the cold probably affected the youngsters like Abi (Abigail Sutherland, 21) and Crystal more,”Francis said.

“As the game wore on, we put ourselves under extreme pressure and moved away from the game plan.

“When the fatigue began to set in that’s when we began to fall away, especially in that final quarter. So we are concentrating on improving our fitness levels,” added the Sunshine Girls head coach

The final game of the series is back at the Copperbox Arena – part of the London 2012 Olympic Park and less than a kilometre from the stadium where sprinting legend Usain Bolt collected three of his eight gold medals – tomorrow, starting at 9 a.m. (Jamaican time).