Jamaica Sunshine Girls netball team head coach Connie Francis says there’s very little she needs to do to lift the team for Sunday’s gold medal match against world number one ranked Australia.
The game is slated for the National Exhibition Centre Arena at 9:30 pm here (4:30 pm EST), with Jamaica, the only unbeaten team thus far in the competition, eyeing their first-ever gold medal in this competition.
Francis’ girls booked their spot in the final on Saturday when they annihilated world champions New Zealand 67-51 in a dominant encounter.
“It is a surreal feeling, the journey, nobody understands the journey, but we are reaping all the hard work. To come into a tournament like this, we’ve never beaten the number one and number two in the world in the same tournament, and just to see how the girls displayed discipline and classic netball is a blessing,” Francis told CNW Network.
Jamaica had also erased a six-point, last-quarter deficit in their top-of-the-table Pool A clash with Australia last Thursday to defeat them 57-55 in a significant turn-up for the books.
Then in Saturday’s semi-final against the Pool B runner-up New Zealand, they made the former many-time champions look rather ordinary in a lop-sided exhibition of high-quality netball.
And truth be told, the Sunshine Girls have looked the part from the get-go in pool play, beating Wales 72-43, South Africa 68-49, Barbados 103-24, and Scotland 78-34.
They have made the final at the Commonwealth Games for the first time and will renew their rivalry with Australia, who defeated England comfortably, 60-51, in the second game on Saturday.
“From we left Jamaica, that (winning gold) was the aim; the girls were focused, and it showed from our first game right through. There is growth within this team,” offered Francis.
Against New Zealand, the Sunshine Girls set the pace early, and the intent was never in doubt by the end of the first quarter, as the Girls led 18-9.
They increased their lead by five goals (18-13) in the second quarter, leaving the score at 36-22 at halftime.
The Girls found the target 16 more times in the third stanza while restricting their rivals to 13 for an overall lead of 52-35.
Francis brought in substitutions in the fourth quarter with the game all but over with more than a 20-point lead. The team stuttered as the new players searched for rhythm, giving New Zealand the final quarter by one goal (16-15).
Captain and goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler led the way with a perfect 54 goals in 53 minutes, with goal attack Shanice Beckford chipping in with a perfect ten goals in 57 minutes on court.
Shimona Nelson accounted for the other three with a perfect three from three in six minutes.
On the defensive side of the game, goal keep Shamera Sterling and center Nicole Dixon-Rochester triggered three intercepts each, while wing defense Jodi-Ann Ward accounted for two.
For New Zealand, substitute goal shoot Grace Nweke netted a perfect 24 goals after being introduced at halftime.
She was assisted by goal shoot Maia Wilson with 13 goals from 15 attempts and goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit with 14 goals from 16 tries.
Francis believes they are ready for Sunday’s final.
“These girls are hungry. I don’t have to lift them, and I don’t have to say much to them because they hold each other accountable. Yes, we do have to do some coaching, but what I love about this team is that they are focused on the gold.
“Without comparing teams, this is the first time I’m seeing such a disciplined team,” she said, referring to the significant reduction in unforced errors.
“We couldn’t have given Jamaica a better 60th birthday gift because guess what, we beat the number one and the number two teams in the world for the first time in a major championship. I don’t think these girls can do anything else than go for the gold.”
