Netball: Aussies shine in gloom

By JULIE ASH at the World Champs

"Take the sunshine out of those Aussies" was just one of the colourful messages displayed in Kingston's Independent Stadium yesterday when home-town favourites Jamaica played Australia.

In one of the most keenly awaited matches of the world championships, Jamaica's "Sunshine Girls" and Australia went head-to-head in front of a full house of screaming Jamaican fans.

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken and her assistant, Leigh Gibbs, watched the match before the Silver Ferns' final pool game, against Fiji, which they won convincingly 79-24.

But that was small beer after the big game of the day, which lived up to expectations, despite a blackout in the second quarter.

Jamaica threw everything at the defending champions but a series of mistakes in the last quarter allowed the Australians to take game 48-43.

The win secured Australia the top spot in their pool, which means they will now face Barbados in the quarter-finals and most probably England in the semifinal.

For Jamaica the loss means they will face Fiji in the quarter-finals and then the Silver Ferns in the semis on Sunday morning.

"Australia were a bit ragged at the start today," Aitken said. "I thought the lights going off was very timely for them.

"It was long enough for them to regroup, which was exactly what they needed. I think [Australian captain] Kathryn Harby-Williams had identified that and an injury break had already been called before the lights went out.

"Jamaica, I thought, in the last 10 minutes just got their tails down a bit and eased off the pressure and Australia showed just pegging away slowly is what makes the difference.

"But keep Jamaica on a roll and who knows what will happen."

Jamaica forced the normally slick Australian unit into error early on. With the score 10-10 at the end of the first quarter, Australian coach Jill McIntosh rang in the changes, bringing the inexperienced Natasha Chokljat into wing attack and moving Rebecca Saunders from wing attack to centre.

"We were making a few too many handling errors in that first quarter so we went to those two rookies and they did a good job for us," McIntosh said.

Jamaica went three goals up midway through the second quarter but then the stadium was plunged into darkness. "There is electricity in the stadium," the loudspeaker declared, "so the lights will come on soon."

It took 25 minutes.



The power cut was an unwanted disruption for the players but for the 3000 spectators it was a chance to turn up the reggae music and dance. And dance they did - turning Kingston's Independent Stadium into the best hot spot in town.

Australia regrouped during the break and at halftime lead 21-20.

"The blackout allowed us to compose ourselves," said McIntosh.

"There is nothing you can do but you have to remain calm and focused."

Early in the last quarter it was all one-way traffic. Australia were up by eight at one stage and managed to fend off a late charge from the Jamaicans.

Jamaican coach Maureen Hall was extremely disappointed with her side's effort.

"We lost our momentum a bit after the blackout. But that is no excuse. We had the opportunity to regroup as well.

"But just because we lost to Australia we are not going to lie down and die. We will have to regroup and concentrate on our quarter-final."

There was less riding on the Silver Ferns' final pool match, and their easy win over Fiji was no surprise. It was a good way for wing defence Lesley Nicol to mark her 100th game for New Zealand.

Aitken used all of her players in the match, including captain Anna Rowberry, who has been struggling with a calf injury, and Jodi Te Huna had her first run in the unaccustomed position of wing attack.

"I thought defensively we did some good things but I just thought we got too loose on attack for my liking ... We need to be more clinical," Aitken said.

While the power was on during their match the Silver Ferns had to cope with a fire alarm which decided to activate itself twice during the game.

The Silver Ferns have today off before the quarter-final clash against Samoa tomorrow.

In other quarter-finals, Australia face Barbados, South Africa tackle England and Jamaica meet Fiji.