Sun | Jul 26, 2026

Australia secure 10th WNC title

Published:Monday | July 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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England's Geva Mentor (left) and Jamaica's Jhaniele Fowler vie for the ball, during their third-place match at the World Netball Championships yesterday, at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium. England beat Jamaica 70-49. - AP
Australia's netball team celebrate its Mission Foods World Netball Championship success, after defeating New Zealand in the final at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium yesterday. - Collin Reid photo courtesy of Supreme Ventures Limited
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Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

NEWTON, Singapore:

It took extra time to decide the winners of this year's Mission Foods World Netball Championship title. In the end, defending champion Australia prevailed with an exciting 58-57 victory over New Zealand, which was played in front of a packed house at the Singapore National Indoor Stadium yesterday.

The victory was sweet revenge for the Australians, who were beaten by New Zealand in last year's final of the Commonwealth Games, which was held in Delhi, India.

The Australians were also claiming their 10th hold on netball's most prestigious trophy, which is by far the most by any team in the history of the competition.

"I am feeling elated," said Norman Plummer, coach of the Australian team. "I am so pleased with the performance by girls today.

"It was a lot of youngsters out there today and many of them are playing in their first World Championships and I am just elated for them," she added. "They brought a lot of exuberance to the team and a lot of freshness and they actually produced today."

Both teams began the game confidently. However, New Zealand eked out a narrow 12-10 lead at the end of the first-half quarter. They then extended their advantage to six goals by the second break, leading 26-20 at half-time.

However, the Kiwis faltered in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to let the Australians back in the game.

The Aussies clawed their way back to trail by only one point, 36-35, and by the end of regulation time the scores were level at 46-46, forcing 14 minutes of extra time (seven minutes each half).

The Kiwis continued to make a few crucial blunders in extra time, especially with their centre passes, and to some extent not fully capitalising when the Australians made errors.

With the scores tied at 57-57 in the final seconds of extra time, rookie goal shooter Caitlin Bassett scored the winning goal to send the huge Australian crowd into a frenzy. Bassett ended with 23 goals from 25 attempts. She received support from Catherine Cox, who scored 15 goals from 21 tries; and Natalie Medhurst, who sank 18 goals from 23 attempts.