Perfect Result
Sunshine Girls waltz into semi-finals after signature win vs reigning champs New Zealand
Published:Friday | August 4, 2023 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
A maiden Netball World Cup title for Jamaica is only two wins away, and for head coach Connie Francis, a historic win against reigning champions New Zealand was described as perfect as they stayed the course towards their target.
Jamaica outlasted the Silver Ferns, 59-48, in their final Pool G game yesterday in Cape Town, South Africa, to top the table and proceed to the semi-finals as one of the two teams left unbeaten in the tournament. It was historic as the Sunshine Girls registered their first win over New Zealand in a World Cup as well as handed them their largest tournament defeat.
While it was a game where New Zealand kept it close in the second and third quarters, Jamaica stormed in the fourth for their sixth straight win of the tournament.
Francis said that the performance and result were less about a statement of intent and more about travelling on their path to the title, with total commitment from the team.
“It wasn’t a statement. It was about the road towards the goal. We have a very good, hungry team determined to put 110 per cent out there at all times,” Francis told The Gleaner. “The game wasn’t the most perfect, but it was a perfect win, and I am so happy that we are on the winning side.”
DEFENSIVE DISCIPLINE
While Jamaica were under pressure early, captain Jhaniele Fowler credited the team for their defensive discipline down the stretch in ensuring that they were in striking distance to recover and push ahead.
“We didn’t start the best that we could have, but it was better than how we started with Uganda. But our discipline to prevent the game from going away from us was important,” Fowler said. “What has been building our confidence is the work that we have been doing up to now. The fact that we know that if we are down we can come back from behind and push on. The fact that we are a cohesive unit and our togetherness has been building throughout this tournament is what is giving us confidence. Defeating New Zealand has added to that, but it is just a minor aspect of it.”
Fowler was perfect from the shooting circle, scoring 49 goals with Shanice Beckford chipping in with nine and Romelda Aiken George adding one when she was introduced late in the game. Crediting the unity within the team, Fowler said that it has been the catalyst for their success so far
“Our togetherness has set standards in terms of how we want to perform. Because you will see it out there on the court. But what people don’t see is transferred to on court and it goes to show that we are a unit and we are together as one,” Fowler said.
What awaits the Sunshine Girls is a date with Australia in tomorrow’s semi-final. Australia are coming off their first-ever defeat to England in a World Cup but Fowler believes that paying attention to their strengths will put them in a good position to advance.
“I know that we have to stay disciplined and play our game. Our play is what has won us games so far. So once we stick to our structure, we should be fine,” Fowler said.
New Zealand progressed to the semi-finals despite the loss and will face Pool F winners England tomorrow.