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Report and photos by our reporter John Coxon
The inaugural Co-operative World Netball Series has been won by New Zealand’s Silver Ferns after a weekend of surprises at the Manchester arena.
This newly inspired squad had been especially impressive in the ruthless and professional way they tackled their old rivals Australia with an emphatic 25-19 victory ; the first time they’d beaten the World champions since way back in 1983. England seemed in an unassailable position coming into arena in front of 4000 fans on Sunday but both Australia and the England girls were in for a surprise. The Kiwis pulled off a surprise of their own in a reversal of the turn up in their Saturday round robin game, when they trashed the Australians 27-17 in their semi-final . A previously unbeaten England’s new found confidence was understandably high going into Sunday’s games and knowing that Jamaica’s “Sunshine Girls “ motto “No Problem” was all that stood in front of them to reach the final.
They were trailing in the first six minute period in what was a often a very physical tussle for the ball and the physicality of the game had the England coach asking afterwards whether the Fast Net allowed umpires time to properly protect players from the high speed rough and tumble in this full on version of the game. But it was in the second where the real damage was done when both teams opted for the power-play. The agile , sometimes balletic Jamaicans raced into an unassailable lead by 12 points by the end of the quarter, but England’s batch of missed shots took its toll against the combined precision of the Forbes and Aiken partnership. A stunned England left the court having to swallowing a bitter rum 33-22 Caribbean defeat, literally shaken if not stirred.
The Jamaican’s took the court in the more familiar traditional style strip with yellow sleeveless tops and discreet equipment suppliers Gilbert and Digicel ( largest mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean) high pectoral branding and with black flashes ( tee shirt like at the front but with cut away backs linked with yellow and green cross over straps) with green arm trimmings and short black pleated skirts . In contrast , perhaps more reflective , quite literally of the new order, New Zealand had played throughout in one piece high thigh length black numbers (with black shorts under ) and detachable velcroed dorsal and frontal silver gilt positional abbreviations on black headlined with discreet co-op branding ( as had the Jamaicans) and a three broad Addidas themed silver stripes from hem to waistline as if dressed to high school party. Duller fabric branding labels were reserved for the Co-op , chief sponsors of the world series but also the somewhat prophetic sounding “New World” logo, referring not to this revolution in the sport’s 113 year history but one of the nation’s big supermarket chains.
The slow to start in what was a tight game New Zealand edging ahead just 6-5 through the first quarter and 11-10 at halftime. At the start of the third , the fireworks started (every power play announced in American-style with pyrotechnics , flames shot briefly from to gas fired jets at the City end of the court either side of the big screen. This was all part of the package to add some American style razzmatazz to increase the games appeal along with the use of heavy rock anthems at key points “We Will Rock you” ilk and use of party time crowd pleasers to up the tempo and engage the fans with fast and slow Mexican waves , YMCA and all that jazz. This third quarter power play was pivotal , where double points count for their goals, and enabled the New Zealander’s to pull Ahead to a 27-22 lead. Similarly , it was the Power play that enabled Jamaica to take their surprising earlier win to reach the final. It was fifty in the long looped high ball contest where Jamaica used what seemed their average height advantage to good effect but crucial in the win was Emepara George’s fast attacking play feeding Maria Tutaia and Irene van Dyk with accurate balls giving them numerous chances to score. In the Jamaican goal area balls were launched quickly out and then back in at mid and lower chest height with speedy precision that at times bemused the Jamaicans. At the other end , the Kiwis effort in defence pressured the Sunshine girls into errors at crucial moments. Irene van Dyk dominated the goal circle scoring 17 from 17.
Final Placings:
1. New Zealand 2. Jamaica 3.Australia 4. England 5. Malawi 6. Samoa.
More photos from the games at johncoxon.com
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Full results can be viewed by visiting this fixtures page on the official site and scrolling down
