Netball: Sunshine Girls to shadow top three

Romelda Aiken will front Jamaica's attack against the Silver Ferns. Photo / Getty Images

With just one win from 42 starts against New Zealand, Jamaica's Sunshine Girls hardly have a record to smile about.

But after years of shouldering criticism for being too reliant on natural flair and ability, Jamaica is coming of age with two tests against the Silver Ferns this week and next year's Commonwealth Games in India.

Demonstrating a new-found focus on discipline and control, the Jamaicans are working to narrow the gap between the world No4-ranked side and the top three of Australia, New Zealand and England.

At the forefront of the Jamaican resurgence is rangy goal shoot Romelda Aiken. The 1.96m shooter has been relishing support from experienced goal attack and captain Simone Forbes, while Althea Byfield has strengthened the team's defence.

Both have gained valuable experience playing in Australia and New Zealand.

The Jamaican history books make for grim reading, with just two draws and a solitary victory over New Zealand.

Coinciding with her 50th international test, former Silver Fern Belinda Colling played in New Zealand's only loss to Jamaica back in 2002. The 53-44 defeat in Kingston was one of the "biggest tests" of Colling's 91-cap, decade-long international career.

"They always perform better at home and have that home crowd support, they really relish that," she said. "I have had some great battles against Jamaica. They are not an easy team to play," Colling said.

The elevation of former goal attack Connie Francis to head coach has provided a shining light for Jamaica.

Silver Fern coach Ruth Aitken has credited Francis with shifting Jamaica's focus from their passion-driven, high-risk brand of netball to the side which claimed a silver medal at the recent 'Fastnet' world championships in Manchester, behind winners New Zealand.

Aitken believes the Jamaicans have a better understanding of the work ethic needed to challenge netball's big three in Delhi.

"I think Jamaica's gotten more disciplined, especially against us," Aitken said. "Connie was a very astute, very clever goal attack during her playing days and I think she is bringing that to the group."

While Jamaica has more structure in place, the Sunshine Girls still make room for the unpredictable.

"They are unorthodox, athletic and agile," explained Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams. "You can never underestimate them." Colling agreed: "They are always very skilful, they are very athletic and have incredible elevation and explosiveness," she said.

"They play a very unorthodox style, which makes them hard to play because they don't do what you anticipate.

"They put the balls into places which New Zealand teams don't expect."

In the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games, Colling wants the Silver Ferns to increase consistency, place a higher premium on ball possession and work to put the foot on the throttle when they have gained control of a match.

Meanwhile, Australia's shock third placing behind Jamaica in the Fastnet Series has made the side hungry for success, according to vice-captain Natalie von Bertouch.

The Diamonds have never finished behind the Sunshine Girls in an international tournamentand have only lost once to Jamaica since 1986.

Von Bertouch said the team was determined to make amends against the Jamaicans in Kingston in two tests played today and tomorrow.

"We were definitely disappointed to come third, that's not somewhere we're used to finish or like to come," von Bertouch said, after New Zealand won the inaugural tournament in Manchester, England. "I guess it makes that hunger in the belly a bit stronger and definitely means that we're out to win these test matches that we're playing in."

The Australians have already pin-pointed towering goal shoot Aitken as the player to stop. The 196cm Aitken plays for Queensland in the transtasman league and for the past two years has been named the player of the competition. In this year's series she averaged 43.8 goals per game.

"Having Romelda in the team makes them so dangerous," von Bertouch said of Jamaica.

"She's a shooting machine and every goal she misses she gets the rebound basically, so for us it's about stopping the ball before it gets to her, so there's a lot of pressure on defence all over the court."

NZ vs Jamaica

There have been 42 tests between the two countries - New Zealand has won 39 games (93 per cent winning record), Jamaica has won one, in 2002.

Two games have resulted in draws - the first in 1986 in Christchurch where the final score was 39-39; the second in 1999 in Kingston, Jamaica where the final score was 54-54.

The highest score posted by New Zealand was on July 12, 2007, with 80 goals scored. Jamaica's highest score came on July 12, 1991, with 63.