The Australian Fast5 Flyers have opened their 2014 FAST5 Netball World Series campaign with a dominant 34-13 victory over Jamaica at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday.
After a slow start, the Flyers controlled the match from late in the opening term to get their campaign off to the perfect start with their biggest ever win over the Sunshine Girls in nine meetings in the modified version of the game.
Flyers co-captain Clare McMeniman said she enjoyed her FAST5 debut and was delighted by quickly her team settled into the match.
"That first match is always that little bit fast and frantic but nice to get all of the nerves out in that first game and we can only build on that from here," McMeniman said.
Jamaica opened the scoring through Romelda Aiken but the Flyers' starting shooters Erin Bell and Karyn Bailey and then Amorette Wild started to hit the target to help Australia to a four-goal lead at quarter-time.
The Flyers' defence only allowed Jamaica three shots at goal for the term with Kate Shimmin impressing through her ability to intercept balls into the Sunshine Girls' circle.
The Flyers dominated the second term through the shooting of Kate Beveridge to take a 10-goal lead into half-time.
Beveridge produced the tournament's first three-point shot just seconds before the half-time buzzer.
The Flyers took their power play in the third quarter – and Sunshine Girls coach Minneth Reynolds shifted Aiken to goal keeper for the term – and Bell was on target with a three-point shot and a couple of two-pointers to extend Australia's lead to 20 goals heading into the final term.
In fact, Bell scored all of Australia's 14 points for the quarter.
The final quarter saw the Sunshine Girls use their power play but the Flyers defence, led by McMeniman, remained on top as Australia held Jamaica to just two points for the quarter to record a comfortable win.
The Flyers are back on court against South Africa at 1.15pm (AEDT).
Shooting statistics:
Australia
1PT 2PT 3PT
K.Bailey 2/2 1/4 -
E. Bell 2/3 3/6 1/1
K. Beveridge 3/3 2/6 1/1
A. Wild - 1/2 -
Jamaica
1PT 2PT 3PT
R. Aiken 6/7 0/2 -
S. Beckford - 0/3 0/1
A. Griffith - 2/3 0/1
T. Harwood - 1/5 0/4
