England were comfortable 30-13 winners in their first test on court. The game with South Africa was a bit slow to start with but the style of Fastnet is very different for the players to change to and there is always the worry that a bit of over enthusiasm could lead to mistakes. Just nine goals were landed in the six minute quarter, England’s Rachel Dunn and Jo Harten started in attack and between them gave the hosts a 6-3 advantage.
South Africa have brought an inexperienced side to the series after a raft of injuries at the Commonwealth Games last month and they were right up against it in the second quarter when England called their PowerPlay. Pamela Cookey landed the first two pointer and the African side found themselves very much on the back foot for the first part of the quarter, falling 12-3 behind. But the Proteas did well to hold on and got better as the clock ticked by. It was a crunching elbow in the face for Sonia Mkoloma that left her needing an ice-bag to the face at half-time with her side 16-8 in front.
With an 8-point gap to close South Africa chose to take their PowerPlay in the third quarter, but England’s keep ball strategy slowed down their opponents shots on goal and what attempts they had came unsuccessfully from outside the D. Instead of closing the gap South Africa had to watch it widen and that was down to some cracking defensive tips and turnovers by Stacie Francis, Serena Guthrie and Sacha Corbin. Just one double-bubble goal went in for the Proteas which meant the score was 23-10 to England with one to play.
As we found in this competition last year it takes a little while for the players to adjust to the style of play needed and this game was significantly faster in the final quarter than in the first. England clicked into cruise control and were enjoying the match by the end having completed the game 30-13 winners. Next up Australia.
The Australian’s bagged their first win in the Commonwealth Games final rematch with New Zealand coming from 5 goals down to win 25-19.
Jamaica started their campaign with a final-quarter deciding clash with Malawi that ended 32-30. Malawi cleverly called their PowerPlay in the 3rd quarter and after a 7-7 first quarter, 15-14 half-time tally went ahead 28-22. Age cannot wither the efforts of Mary Waya who at 42 years old is still answering her country’s call, she landed the first double-point goal of the series and added another in the PowerPlay.
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Umpires: Bobbi Brown (NZ) Dave Brown (Jam)
Starting 7: GS Rachel Dunn, GA Jo Harten, WA Tamsin Greenway, C Karen Atkinson (captain), WD Serena Guthrie, GD Eboni Beckford-Chambers, GK Sonia Mkoloma. Bench: Louisa Brownfield, Pamela Cookey, Sasha Corbin, Stacey Francis, Lindsay Keable.
