The netball action is well underway on the Gold Coast. Day one saw wins for Jamaica, England, New Zealand and the defending gold medalists, Australia.
Jamaica 88 – 30 Fiji
The Sunshine Girls made a very impressive start to their Commonwealth Games campaign with a win over Fiji. The Fiji Pearls couldn’t handle the towering pair of Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and Romelda Aiken who played a half each, scoring 64 goals between them.
Jamaica saw themselves 49-15 up at half time with Fowler-Reid scoring forty times inside the first half an hour. Nineteen year old shooter, Maliana Rusivakula, had limited chances for Fiji but converted 17/19 to keep Fiji ticking over on the scoreboard.
It was to no avail however, as Jamaica continued the tirade on the Fiji net with Rebekah Robinson and Shanice Beckford getting in on the goal scoring act.
The Sunshine Girls play South Africa tomorrow while the Fiji Pearls will have a tie against Barbados on Saturday.
Shooting
Jamaica – 88/102 (86%) – J.Fowler-Reid – 40/43 (93%)
Fiji – 30/42 (71%) – M.Rusivakula – 17/19 (89%)
Starting Line Ups
Jamaica – (GK) S.Sterling, (GD) S.Facey, (WD) V.Williams, (C) P.Thompson, (WA) N.Dixon, (GA) S.Beckford, (GS) J.Fowler-Reid
Fiji – (GK) E.Kahatoka, (GD) A.Naqiri, (WD) L.Rokoura, (C) A.Waqainabete, (WA) N.Cirikisuva, (GA) M.Rusivakula, (GS) V.Rusivakula
England 74 – 28 Scotland
Tracey Neville’s side also got to a good start with a clinical win over Scotland. Jo Harten led the way with an impressive personal forty goal haul. Defensive duo, Ama Agbeze and Geva Mentor kept the Thistles at bay, picking off any stray passes that allowed the Roses to advance further up the court.
Shooter Bethan Goodwin, who is just eighteen years of age, converted fifteen times for the Thistles. Captain, Claire Brownie, provided ten assists over the course of the game for the Thistles.
Both sides utilised their whole squad during the game, with all players playing some part of the game. England’s Serena Guthrie left the venue on crutches with a compression brace on her ankle, which was the only downside to a good afternoons work for the Roses.
Next for them is the Malawi Queens, while Scotland will play Wales on Saturday.
Shooting
England – 74/82 (90%) – J.Harten 40/43 (93%)
Scotland – 28/43 (65%) – B.Goodwin 15/19 (79%)
Starting Line Ups
England – (GK) G.Mentor, (GD) A.Agbeze, (WD) B.Cobden, (C) J.Clarke, (WA) C.Pitman, (GA) H.Housby, (GS) J.Harten
Scotland – (GK) H.Mulheron, (GD) F.Fowler, (WD) S.Murphy, (C) C.Brownie, (WA) N.McLeery, (GA) L.Gallagher, (GS) B.Goodwin
New Zealand 64 – 51 Uganda
The second session of the day began with Uganda’s first ever match at the Commonwealth Games. There was a great atmosphere inside the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and the crowd wasn’t disappointed either as the Silver Ferns and She Cranes treated them to a gripping encounter.
The Silver Ferns led throughout the match but were pushed all the way by a very good Ugandan performance. Maria Folau converted all 22 of her goal scoring opportunities for the Ferns, while She Cranes captain Peace Proscovia, grabbed 35 of Uganda’s 51 goals.
Up next for New Zealand is a date with Wales, while Uganda play Malawi on day three.
Shooting
New Zealand – 64/79 (81%) – M.Folau 22/22 (100%)
Uganda – P.Proscovia 35/40 (88%)
Starting Line Ups
New Zealand – (GK) T.Fakahokotau, (GD) K.Grant, (WD) S.Sinclair, (C) S.Francois, (WA) G.Kara, (GA) M.Folau, (GS) B.Mes
Uganda – (GK) S.Nanfuka, (GD) A.Lillian, (WD) F.Nanyonga, (C) R.Meme, (WA) H.Nakachwa, (GA) R.Nanyonga, (GS) P.Proscovia
Australia 94 – 26 Northern Ireland
The Aussie Diamonds got to the perfect start to their gold medal defense against Northern Ireland. All members of the Diamonds squad featured during the match and all impressed, however, it was shooters Caitlin Bassett and Caitlin Thwaites who stole the show.
Both played a half each, with Bassett converting 31/34 and Thwaites with a perfect 39/39. Madison Watson also caught the eye in wing attack notching 32 assists.
Elaine Rice’s Northern Ireland side fought to the very end, with Lisa Bowman as their highest goal scorer. Next up for them is South Africa on day three.
Lisa Alexander’s Diamonds are back in action tomorrow when they take on Barbados.
Shooting
Australia – 94/101 (93%) – C.Thwaites 39/39 (100%)
Northern Ireland – 26/41 (63%) – L.Bowman 13/22 (59%)
Starting Line Ups
Australia – (GK) L.Geitz, (GD) A.Brandley, (WD) G.Simpson, (C) L.Watson, (WA) M.Robinson, (GA) S.Pettitt, (GS) C.Bassett
Northern Ireland – (GK) G.Lawlor, (GD) N.Lennon, (WD) F.Toner, (C) C.O’Hanlon, (WA) O.McCullough, (GA) K.Bowman, (GS) L.Bowman
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