The Jamaican Sunshine Girls have made netball history after defeating the Silver Ferns 59 to 53 not only winning the Taini Jamison trophy title for the first time, but also beating the world number two side consecutively.
Jamaican defender Shamera Sterling competing for the ball against Ameliaranne Ekansio Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
In a surprise decision by coach Janine Southby it was Bailey Mes who received the start over Maria Folau paired up with Ameliaranne Ekanasio in the shooting circle.
The Jamaicans put their foot down early with calm precision through the mid-court to six foot five shooter Jhanielle Fowler-Reid. The New Zealand shooters showed early signs of trouble, reminiscent of round 2 when they were defeated 59 to 51, shooting at a mere 50 percent.
After 10 minutes of play Mes was benched with Folau making immediate impact not only under the hoop but rolling the top of the circle to draw defenders away leaving Ekanasio open on the baseline, clearly receiving a boost of confidence with Folau's presence. The visitors winning the quarter 13 to nine.
The second spell saw an even contest for the ball with mid-courters Grace Kara and Shannon Francois finding their shooters with growing success, Jamaica making changes to their defensive line to combat the Ferns steady pace.
Despite frustration settling for the Sunshine Girls after Fowler-Reid picked up a contact call, composure and patience soon returned scoring the next four consecutive goals leading at half-time 28 to 23.
The second half saw yet another change to New Zealand's shooting circle with Te Paea Selby-Rickit paired up with Folau. No change to their defence meant Kelly Jury needed to continue to find ways to decrease Fowler-Reid's power which finally came with a big contest in the air to win ball from her.
With doubt creeping into the Jamaican shooting circle, impact defender Temalisi Fakahokotau was injected into the game claiming her first turnover ball after a minute on court.
As the defenders continued to try anything and everything, including a hoist by Katrina Grant and Fakahokotau, turnover ball finally started to convert to points for the first time this series. But it didn't amount to much as Jamaica ended the quarter with a 44 to 39 lead.
With the trophy series on the line, the Silver Ferns made three positional changes including Michaela Sokolich-Beatson coming on, Grant moving to goal keep and Kara to the bench - every position changing since the start of the game.
Jamaica though, go about their business with three consecutive goals with the biggest lead of the game so far of seven and desperation sets in for Southby changing her defensive line again with Jury returning and Fakahokotau to goal defence.
A surge by the homeside in the final two minutes closed the gap to four but was too late, the Jamaican's steady play winning back to back games against New Zealand for the first time ever and claiming the Taini Jamison Trophy series 59 to 53.
- RNZ
