Diamonds Overpower Jamaica in Sydney
The Australian Diamonds have wrapped up the three-Test match Series against Jamaica with a 69-42 victory in Sydney last night. The Australians dominated from start to finish with the Diamonds looking a class above their Caribbean competition.
The Diamonds started where theyfinished in Melbourne with the Australians looking very dangerous early, however a patient Jamaica stayed in touch with the World Number One thanks to spearhead shooter Romelda Aiken providing a focus up forward.
Tight centre court defence from acting-captain centre Natalie von Bertouch and wing defence Renae Hallinan meant the Australians pulled away to a four goal margin midway through the quarter.
While the two tallest players on court (both 196cm) Romelda Aiken and keeper Susan Furhmann (WAIS) battled it out in the goal circle, Diamonds wing attack Madison Browne (WAIS) ensured the Diamonds lead increased with silver service into shooters Catherine Cox and Susan Pratleyto pushthe Diamonds lead out to 23-12 at quarter time.
The Sunshine Girls fiddled with their defensive line-up for the second quarter while Diamonds coach Norma Plummer left her starting seven unchanged.
Although Jamaican defenders Sasha-Gaye Lynch and Nicole Aiken made more of an impact against the Diamonds shooters the Australian lead continued to grow with von Bertouch, Browne and Hallinan unflappable through the middle.
Fuhrmann and Bulley continued to frustrate the Jamaican shooters, helping the Diamonds to a 36-23 lead at half-time.
Plummer made significant changes to start the third with Amy Steel making her Diamonds debut in goal defence, Kim Green (wing attack) and WAIS scholarship holder Kate Beveridge (goal shooter) also took the court to start the second half.
The fresh Diamonds line-up lifted the intensity piling on the goals in the opening minutes.
With Kate Beveridge gaining confidence with two early goals the Australian line-up looked unstoppable in attack.
A late rally by Jamaica saw Romelda Aiken begin to get on top of Fuhrmann however the goals did little to dint the Diamonds lead with the Australians taking a 53-29 margin into the final change.
The Diamonds took the same team into the final quarter while Jamaica once again mixed up their defensive combinations, bringing Malysha Kelly on to goal defence to replace Nicole Aiken.
However Pratley continued her domination in the goal circle with the change in Jamaican defence not stopping the agile goal attack work her magic around the post and with Beveridge continuing her accurate shooting the Diamonds score soon blew over 60 goals.
The Jamaicans rallied in the final five minutes of the quarter however they couldn’t stop the onslaught with the Australian running out 69-42 winners.
The Diamonds now head to the Gold Coast for the final clash against the Jamaica on Sunday 15.
– Netball Australia