Netball: Aussies quickly show their style

By Richard Boock

CHRISTCHURCH - They might not play their first game until today but Australia have already made their mark on these world netball championships.

The world champions begin their title defence this afternoon against Singapore, one of four qualifiers from yesterday's preliminary rounds, and a side who are not exactly unfamiliar with the Aussie twang.

The Singapore side are not only coached by an Australian but also have a crack Australian goal-shoot (apparently recruited specifically for this tournament), while Fiji - who led the qualifiers after tipping over Zambia yesterday - have an Australian running the show as well.

Fiji joined Wales, Northern Ireland and Singapore as the 13-16th seeds after yesterday's qualifying round, and now have England in their sights as they chase an upset result in the championship proper, and a coveted top-10 world ranking.

Guided by former Australian director of coaching Julie Hoorweg, Fiji snuffed out the Zambian threat with an uncharacteristically organised game, eventually cruising to the wire in comfort after some 90 per cent shooting from Alanieta Evans, Lanieta Tuisese and Annie Wong.

Leaving aside the question of qualifying criteria for the moment, Singapore were almost as dominant in their match against Malaysia, building on a 33-22 half-time lead to win 68-46 - as Aussie sharpshooter Jocelyn Bryant lit up the Westpac Stadium with a commanding effort in the circle.

A Victorian and Melbourne Kestrels representative, Bryant was a member of the 1998 Australian B side who played New Zealand B in 1998, and the year previously was part of the Melbourne Pheonix side who won the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.

Watched by Singapore coach Sue Gaudian - herself a Victoria representative between 1987 and 1992 - Bryant shot 44 from 49 yesterday as her adopted team recovered from a sluggish start to run the Malaysians ragged.

Gaudian said afterwards the Australia "and New Zealand" influence offshore could only be healthy for netball, and that the presence of players like Bryant helped to lift the standard of everyone around her, providing genuine spin-offs for her team-mates.

"It's healthy for everyone," she said. "But it's especially healthy for the game."

The news was good and bad for the British home countries yesterday, as Wales and Northern Ireland grabbed a top qualifying spot but Scotland - who swept the Cayman Islands aside on Monday - ended up in the lower half of the draw.

Wales were quickly into their work against the Scots, converting a 28-15 half-time lead into a 54-36 win, while Northern Ireland's quickness eventually overcame Tonga's strength and power, the Irish winning 50-41 after being held to 23-23 at half-time.

World Netball Championships Day 3 (Main Draw)

England v Fiji, 8.45am, Cook Islands v Barbados, 10.30am, Trinadad and Tobago v Canada, 12.15pm, South Africa v Northern Ireland, 2pm, New Zealand v Wales, 3.45pm, Australia v Singapore, 5.30pm, Jamaica v USA, 7.30pm