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Sunshine Girls finding range - Smooth Jamaicans cruise to easy win over Botswana

Published:Wednesday | July 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Jamaica's goal attack, Anna-Kay Griffith, and Botswana's goal defence, Kagisano Mawela (right), challenge for the ball during their Mission Foods World Netball Championships game at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium on Tuesday. Jamaica won 74-23. - Collin Reid photo courtesy of Supreme Ventures Limited
Jamaica's goal shooter Romelda Aiken (second left) catches a pass in front of Botswana defender Thulaganyo Segopolo (left), while Anna-Kay Griffith advances to support amid several Botswana players, during their Mission Foods World Netball Championships match at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium yesterday. Jamaica won 74-23. - AP
Jamaica's goal keeper Nicole Aiken-Pinnock (second right) intercepts a pass ahead of Botswana's Tebogo Radipotsane (GS), during their Mission Foods World Netball Championships game at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium yesterday. Jamaica won 74-23.
Singapore's Chen Huifen (left) and South Africa's Leigh Ann Zackey react during their Mission Foods World Netball Championships match yesterday at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium. South Africa won 70-33. - AP
Jamaica's captain Nadine Bryan (centre) holds the ball while searching for a pass, during the Mission Foods World Netball Championship match against Botswana yesterday. Looking on (from left) are Jamaica's Malysha Kelly and Kameika Sherwood; and Botswana's Portia Rasekhumba and Kelebogile Mangole. Jamaica won 74-23.
England's Karen Atkinson (left) and Barbados' Samantha Browne fight for the ball during their Mission Foods World Netball Championships match yesterday in Singapore. England won 74-42.
Catherine Cox of Australia (left) is blocked by Micaela Brunton of Northern Ireland, during their Mission Foods World Netball Championships match yesterday at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium. Australia won 75-33.
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 Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

NEWTON, Singapore:

WITH THE quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Mission Foods World Netball Championships quickly approaching, head coach of Jamaica's Sunshine Girls, Oberon Pitterson, is becoming increasingly satisfied that her team is beginning to find its rhythm.

The Jamaicans recorded their most impressive performance of the championships so far when they thrashed African team Botswana 74-23 yesterday to register their second win on the trot.

"I am pretty happy with the performance because the good thing about it is that we were able to utilise everyone on court, and so that gives other players some well-needed resting time," said Pitterson.

"We were aggressive in the defensive area for most times and that is a good sign for us," Pitterson said. "I think we really did a good job of taking care of the ball and I am satisfied with that," she added.

The Sunshine Girls started the game much more confidently than they did against South Africa in their opening match, as they eased to a 37-6 lead at half-time. The Jamaicans then led 57-16 at the end of the third period.

They had a lot more fluency in their court play as they moved the ball very swiftly from one end of the court to the other, competing with a lot more pace and precision as the game went on.

The coaching staff also used yesterday's game to utilise their entire roster, and Pitterson was very pleased with the effort of their reserve players.

"I thought they adapted well today; Kimone (Tulloch) was a little up and down in the beginning, but she sorted out herself as the game went on. Jodiann Ffrench (Kentish) also got her first run and she did will too," Pitterson observed.

"We wanted to put everyone on court to see different combinations, and all the combinations that we put out really worked well," Pitterson said.

Goal shooter Jhaneile Fowler, who replaced fellow shooter Romelda Aiken at half-time, top-scored for the Jamaicans with 32 goals from 35 attempts.

Aiken also had herself a good shooting day, netting 29 goals from 32 tries. Goal attack Ann-Kay Griffith shot a perfect 12 from 12, while Jodian Ffrench, playing in her first game of tournament, shot one goal from two attempts.

Jamaica will battle hosts Singapore in their third game of the championships today, starting at 4 a.m. (Jamaica time). The quarter-finals are set to begin on Friday, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday.

Yesterday's results

Fiji 40                             Trinidad & Tobago 58 

England 74                    Barbados 42 

Samoa 57                     Sri Lanka 53 

New Zealand 91           Wales 21

Jamaica 74                   Botswana 23 

Australia 75                  Northern Ireland 33 

Singapore 33              South Africa 70 

Malawi 66                    Malaysia 35