Diamonds beat Barbados in netball after near-perfect first quarter
A NEAR-perfect first quarter netball masterclass from Australia set-up a Diamonds demolition of Barbados at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
A NEAR-perfect first quarter masterclass from Australia set-up a 79-24 Diamonds demolition of Barbados at the Gold Coast Convention Centre Friday night.
As a contest, the pool A match-up was almost over as it began with Australia racing to a 10-1 lead in the opening minutes as the world no. 11 ranked Caribbean side crumbled under the might of the reigning world and Commonwealth champions.
The Diamonds led 23-6 at quarter-time with goalshooter Caitlin Thwaites hitting 15 shots from 15 attempts to follow on from her 39 from 39 against Northern Ireland on Thursday night while goal attack Susan Pettitt added eight goals from eight shots.
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Australia forced seven Barbados turnovers, had eight deflections and two interceptions with the only blemish for the home nation being one turnover.
The Diamonds moved the ball precisely and patiently while their defensive pressure forced Barbados to pass laterally with little or no attacking options at their disposal.
Australia went off the boil in the second quarter but still cruised to a 39-12 lead at halftime.
Captain Caitlin Bassett and Laura Geitz started on the bench as part of the Diamonds’ workload management policy and were injected into the match after the main break.
The Diamonds continued to make the match look like a mother-daughter game as they lifted their intensity with Geitz providing a number of highlights as she athletically hunted the ball and terrorised the Barbados shooters.
The Diamonds have a rest day Saturday and play South Africa Sunday.
Meanwhile, Jamaica flexed its muscles with an impressive 57-46 win over South Africa. Jhaniele Fowler-Reid hit 29 goals from 31 attempts for the in-form Sunshine Girls while Romelda Aiken added 13 goals from 15 attempts with goal attack Shanice Beckford contributing 15 goals.
New Zealand overcame a poor second quarter and a spirited Wales to run out 70-44 winners in the Silver Ferns’ second pool match while England withstood an early Malawi challenge to win 74-49 last night.
Originally published as Diamonds beat Barbados in netball after near-perfect first quarter
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