Game 7, Pool C: Jamaica 71, Cook Islands 29
11/11/2007
Jamaica overcame a slow start before racing away to a comfortable 71-29 win over the Cook Islands at the New World Netball World Championships at The Trusts Stadium, in Auckland today.
The Cook Islands competed gamely for the first quarter before Jamaica, seeded No. 3 in the world, edged to a 14-9 first quarter lead in the first outing for both teams at the tournament.
That provided the impetus for the Sunshine Girls to take control in the second quarter and power away to a 36-16 halftime advantage over the No. 11-ranked team.
Despite the healthy advantage on the scoresheet, it was not a totally convincing performance from Jamaica, one of the four teams – along with New Zealand, Australia and England – who are favoured to contest the semi-finals of this event.
The height of Jamaican defenders Nicole Aiken and Kasey Evering and beanpole shooter Romelda Aiken were telling contributors to Jamaica’s cause.
Shorter than their opposites through most areas of the court, the Cook Islanders struggled for an equal share of possession and more often that not, came off second best in the one-on-one contests.
Finishing strongly, Jamaica maintained their ascendancy after going into the third quarter break well in control at 55-23.
The game failed to reach any great heights as a spectacle. Of a stop-start nature, it was not helped by a string of injury stoppages and prolonged patches of sloppy play.
"There’s a lot we can take from the game," Jamaica coach Connie Francis said.
"Most important was our style, we have to be able to take the ball early in the game. We didn’t do well early but I thought we got our game together."
11/11/2007
Jamaica overcame a slow start before racing away to a comfortable 71-29 win over the Cook Islands at the New World Netball World Championships at The Trusts Stadium, in Auckland today.
The Cook Islands competed gamely for the first quarter before Jamaica, seeded No. 3 in the world, edged to a 14-9 first quarter lead in the first outing for both teams at the tournament.
That provided the impetus for the Sunshine Girls to take control in the second quarter and power away to a 36-16 halftime advantage over the No. 11-ranked team.
Despite the healthy advantage on the scoresheet, it was not a totally convincing performance from Jamaica, one of the four teams – along with New Zealand, Australia and England – who are favoured to contest the semi-finals of this event.
The height of Jamaican defenders Nicole Aiken and Kasey Evering and beanpole shooter Romelda Aiken were telling contributors to Jamaica’s cause.
Shorter than their opposites through most areas of the court, the Cook Islanders struggled for an equal share of possession and more often that not, came off second best in the one-on-one contests.
Finishing strongly, Jamaica maintained their ascendancy after going into the third quarter break well in control at 55-23.
The game failed to reach any great heights as a spectacle. Of a stop-start nature, it was not helped by a string of injury stoppages and prolonged patches of sloppy play.
"There’s a lot we can take from the game," Jamaica coach Connie Francis said.
"Most important was our style, we have to be able to take the ball early in the game. We didn’t do well early but I thought we got our game together."
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