England v Jamaica Co-operative International Netball Series Match 3.
VENUE: trentFM arena AT:1900
UMPIRES: Michelle Phippard and Sharon Kelly with Judy Groves as 3rd match official.
MATCH REPORT:
Q1: 17-15
Q2: 27-28
Q3: 41-38
Q4: 55-49
FT: score: 55-49
GUEST OF HONOUR: Mayor of Nottingham, Burcell Whiteman.
Having been outplayed in the first two matches of the series Jamaica went to Nottingham looking to salvage one win from the three match Co-operative International Netball Series. At the O2 in London and in Coventry's Skydome arena the Sunshine Girls were slow to get going and England were able to net enough goals to see them through to the final whistle. They started the match with much more purpose and it was goal for goal in the first 14 minutes with England only able to creep ahead with a late turnover giving them a chance to go two goals up before the whistle. That said this was a much scrappier game than the previous two, less physical but with more spilled possession but again England were first to get into their stride with a more fluid delivery.
With the series in the bag England coach Sue Hawkins chose to shake up the starting line-up but as expected Karen Atkinson captained the side as she pulled on the England bib for a 100th time. Jamaica were largely unchanged Malysha Kelly came in to play goal-defence.
Jamaica took the lead in a match for the first time in the Series at the start of the second quarter and were quickly 3 goals ahead after using the first centre throw to their advantage. They started to outwit the home side and were finally able to find some speed of passing through the mid-court. Handling was again rather more like juggling in the second 15 minutes as the ball appeared possessed at times flying out of court and dropping to the ground at key times. The Sunshine Girls were much more determined and were reward with a one goal lead at half-time.
England shuffled the pack for the third quarter bringing on Sonia Mkoloma at GD , and Louisa Brownfield came on at GS, Karen Atkinson swapped bibs with Jade Clarke and in the WA position seemed to push even in her efforts to earn that 100th honour. Sara Bayman also came on at wing-defence and after a superb sho at the O2 produced another excellent run-out winning post-match praise from her coach.
Jamaica were forced into a substitution after WD Tracy-Ann Robinson was replaced by Sateva Taylor, after the ice-bag failed to work its magic on a leg injury.
Again the teams ranked 3rd and 4th in the world were hard to separate locked at 37-all with 3 and a half minutes left on the clock. England's 8th player - in the form of the 4,600-strong crowd then picked up the pace, their shrieks of "England! England!" encouraged the side into a third quarter lead.
Going into the last 15 minutes of the match England really had the bit between their teeth and with more control and grit consolidated and then extended their lead. Jamaica were spent.
The night belonged to England's ton-up skipper Karen Atkinson who was also named the Mitre Player of Match. Her young twin nephews helped CEO of England Netball Paul Clark CEO and Liz Matkin, Head of Sponsorship at the Co-operative bring on flowers from her team, and 100 red roses from her family. It was all too much for one little boy who burst into tears.
England coach Sue Hawkins said: " It was a game of two-halves but the changes at half-time gave us more stabilty in centre court. There are certainly a few things we want to work on for the next time we play them."
STARTING LINE-UPS
ENGLAND:
GS:Rachel Dunn GA Pamela Cookey WA Tamsin Greenaway C Karen Atkinson (captain) WD Jade Clarke GD Eboni Beckford- Chambers GK Geva Mentor
SHOOTING STATS
Rachel Dunn 14/15 = 93 %
Pam Cookey 29/28 =76%
Louisa Brownfield 12/14 = 86 %
JAMAICA
GS: Romelda Aiken GA Simone Forbes (captain) WA:Nadine Bryan, C Paula Thompson WD, Tracy-Ann Robinson, GD Malysha Kelly GK: Nicole Aiken
SHOOTING STATS
Romelda Aiken 38/43 = 88%
Simone Forbes 11/12 = 92%
