No quarter given

A LAST-SECOND penalty goal from Shanice Beckford enabled the Sunshine Girls to snatch a dramatic draw at the end of a nail-biting opening game of the first of the four-match Horizon Netball Series in Manchester, England.

Jamaica, playing their first full international since the 2023 World Cup, were forced to dig deep and come from behind to share the spoils, ahead of the second test which takes place this morning.

The girls in black, green, and gold were trailing by six points at half-time but managed to claw the deficit back and were level with two minutes to play.

England’s Vitality Roses edged in front once more as the clock ticked down, and were 49-48 ahead when it approached 00:00, with the ball in England’s circle and Romelda Aiken-George in position to square the match.

The tall veteran, in her 20th season playing for her country and a late replacement for star shooter Jahniele Fowler-Nembhard, saw two attempts bounce agonisingly out, only for a penalty to be awarded and Beckford to step up and score with the final play of the game.

If Jamaica were short of competition at this level, England could look back on 13 internationals in the past 12 months, but leading defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, captaining the side for the first time, made reference to the difference in match-readiness.

“I wouldn’t say we were rusty at the start, although it has been 15 months since we last played an international. So we are glad and privileged to be here and now looking forward to tomorrow.”

“I think we need to go back and watch the game to see where we made the errors, as there were too many from us.

“We look to improve our feeds to Romelda (Aiken-George) and also, when we receive on first phase, what we do on second phase.”

Rhea Dixon, who is based in England and qualifies for Jamaica through her grandparents, made a fine debut for the Sunshine Girls, while the Roses had two players – captain Fran Williams and centre Imogen Allison – gaining their 50th caps.

The tourists won the toss and scored first using their speed. It was apparent from then on that the six-foot-five-inch Aiken-George would be a prominent feature of the Roses circle.

But the Jamaicans were less precise and clinical in the opening half and, having managed to hold their hosts to 13-13 at the end of the opening quarter, fell 26-20 by half-time.

Improving their cohesiveness and perhaps aided by the non-appearance of goal attack Helen Housby, who had 12 goals from 12 attempts in the first half, the all-action Jamaicans battled bravely back, reducing the deficit to just a single point at one stage before entering the final quarter trailing 38-35.

“I think the turning point came in the third quarter when the defence started to lift and feed more balls to the attackers, who were then nailing their shots,” pointed out Sterling-Humphrey.

“Rhea fitted in really well and I’d highlight Latanya (Wilson) for the work that she did on wing attack - she is a great wing defence, goal defence and goalkeeper.”

The final quarter was first levelled at 39-39 before Beckford’s late-late show produced an electrifying ending.

Jamaica’s goals came through Aiken-George, with 31 from 36 attempts (86 per cent), and Shanice Beckford, who managed 18 from 21 (also 86 per cent).

Liv Tchine 34/38 (89 per cent) and Lois Pearson 3/4 (75 per cent) completed the England scoring.

Following today’s second test on the same AO Arena court, both teams make a dash across the Atlantic for the concluding two encounters, which take place at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on November 23 and 24.

Jamaica

Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (GK), Jodi-Ann Ward (GD), Latanya Wilson (WD), Crystal Plummer (C), Khadijah Williams (WA), Shanice Beckford (GA), Romelda Aiken-George (GS)

Substitutes: Theresa Beckford, Mischa Creary, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Rhea Dixon, Abigale Sutherland.

England

Fran Williams (GK, C), Funmi Fadoju (GD), Beth Cobden (WD), Imogen Allison (C), Lois Pearson (WA), Helen Housby (GA), Liv Tchine (GS)

Substitutes: Amy Carter, Alica Harvey, Berri Neil, Razia Quashie, Jess Shaw.