Junior Girls too good for England

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's junior Sunshine Girls recorded an easy 44-29 victory over their England counterparts in the opening game of the four-match series at the University of Technology yesterday.

Goal shooter Shantal Slate led the way for the C. Lloyd Walker-coached Under-21 team with 19 goals from 23 attempts. Slate received solid support from Deneen Taylor (12 from 18) and substitutes Shanice Lee (10 from 12) and Vanessa Walker (three from five).

The Jamaicans began the match confidently as they coasted to a 23-11 lead at half-time. The junior Sunshine Girls also outplayed the English in the third period, to end the quarter with a 33-21 advantage. The English girls failed to match the Jamaicans high-intensity game in the fourth quarter as the home team romped to a comfortable victory.

Goal attack Rachel Shaw 10 goals from 15 attempts, Alice Ewer nine from 14 and Amanda Davis eight from 15 were the main scorers for England.

However, despite his team's easy victory, Walker said there are still some areas that they need to improve on ahead of today's second game.

"We won the game and that is good because the girls fought hard," said Walker.

He added: "However, we had some technical difficulties because we made too many turnovers, but as I said before we are not match ready and we are just putting this squad together, and I believe that as the series goes on we will get better."

The second game in the series will be played today at the G C Foster College in St Catherine.