All to play for at Indoor Centre

Robert Bailey, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Following their historic 49-49 tie against world number one ranked Australia on Friday, Jamaica's Sunshine Girls team will be seeking to level their three-Test Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series when both sides square off in today's final match at the National Indoor Sports Centre starting at 5 p.m.

Today's match is expected to be a very exciting affair as a win for the Australians will see them winning series 2-0, while the Jamaicans will hoping for win which would level the series at 1-1. The Australians lead the series 1-0 following their 63-51 win over the Sunshine Girls in the opening game last Wednesday.

Connie Francis, head coach of the Sunshine Girls, who are ranked three places behind the Australian Diamonds, said her team is very confident ahead of today's encounter.

"They (Australians) can be beaten, but I am not going to say we are going to win because the game hasn't been played as yet," said Francis, following Friday's tie.

"I am always confident, but it is all about our players going out there and doing their thing. We are going to put some more new players in and we are going to just ask them to enjoy the moment and play very hard for us because we need this victory on Sunday," Francis added.

Ace goal shooter Romelda Aiken was in superb scoring form for the hosts as she netted 35 goals from 36 attempts.Aiken received solid support from captain Simone Forbes, 12 goals from 13 attempts. Jamaica led 14-11 after the first quarter but the Australians rallied to tie the match at 24-24 at half-time. The hosts, then outscored their opponents 13-12, to take a 37-36 lead at the end of the third period.

Pleased with performance

Francis was very pleased with the all-round performance of her team. "I think everybody did their job and I am very proud of the effort that they put in because they allowed Australia to score 63 goals in the first Test and come in the second Test we held them to 49," Francis pointed-out.

Meanwhile Australia coach Norma Plummer, said she is expecting very competitive and fierce battle in today's final showdown."Look out for game three because it will be high intensity from both teams," said Plummer.

"We started with a slower line-up which gave them (Jamaica) some intensity, and they made full use of it," Plummer said.

"I have played in Jamaica before and they are always capable of playing a high intensity game, but sometimes they don't do it in the first game and I knew that they were coming at us in this game," Plummer said after Friday's thriller. Captain Sharelle McMahon, who netted 24 goals from 32 tries and Natalie Medhurst 17 goals from 19 tries in their second game will again lead the Australians' charge for victory today.