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Sunshine Girls take bronze

Jamaica whip New Zealand 52-45 at Netball World Cup

Published:Monday | August 7, 2023 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Members of the Sunshine Girls team who won bronze at the Netball World Cup yesterday. Front (from left) Jodi-Ann Ward, Shanice Beckford, Abigale Sutherland, Nicole Dixon-Rochester, Khadijah Williams, Crystal Plummer, Adean Thomas and Rebekah Robinson. Bac
@netballjamaica
Members of the Sunshine Girls team who won bronze at the Netball World Cup yesterday. Front (from left) Jodi-Ann Ward, Shanice Beckford, Abigale Sutherland, Nicole Dixon-Rochester, Khadijah Williams, Crystal Plummer, Adean Thomas and Rebekah Robinson. Back row (from left): Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Shimona Nelson, Latanya Wilson, Kimone Shaw, Romelda Aiken-George, Shamera Sterling and Jhaniele Fowler.

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls put aside the disappointment of their semi-final defeat by Australia on Saturday to beat New Zealand 52-45 for the bronze medal at the Netball World Cup in South Africa yesterday.

Player of the Match Jodi-Ann Ward admitted it was a sombre mood in the camp after tasting their first defeat at the tournament against Australia.

Nevertheless, she said they found the resolve to come out and finish the tournament on a high.

“We were disappointed because, obviously, we wanted to be in the gold-medal match. So we had to shake it off. I am proud of the girls, how they came out and performed.

“As a unit, we just wanted to execute because we didn’t do that too well yesterday (Saturday). So we just wanted to come out and execute as best as we could,” she said.

The Sunshine Girls were in control from the start, taking a 14-11 after the first quarter and a 24-21 lead at half time.

They continued to have the better of their more decorated opponents after the break, taking the third quarter 14-11 before closing out the fourth quarter 13–14.

Although they seemed to have the measure of their opponents, Ward said New Zealand never made it easy for them.

“Kudos to New Zealand. They forced us to change a lot of things that we would normally do but I am extremely proud we came out with the win,” she added.

The bronze was Jamaica’s first at the Netball World Cup since 2007. It was also the first time Jamaica defeated New Zealand twice in a Netball World Cup tournament.

The Sunshine Girls ended with seven wins, the most Jamaica have ever recorded at a Netball World Cup.

Jamaica goal shooter, Jhaniele Fowler, said it was a proud achievement despite their coming up short.

“It is unbelievable. I am so proud of my team. We worked so very hard to be where we are today. I told everybody that we were going to do it and we came out and took what we wanted.”

Fowler scored 43 goals from 44 attempts in Jamaica’s win.

Five-time champions New Zealand left the tournament without a medal for the first time.

Meanwhile, in a surprisingly one-sided gold medal game, Australia brushed aside first-time finalists England 61-45. It was Australia’s 12th world title after finishing runners-up in 2019.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com