NZ Netballers top pool with thrilling win over Jamaica

 The New Zealand Netball team put injury setbacks behind them to fend off a spirited Jamaica 50-42 in their final pool match at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Wednesday.

 An outstanding defensive effort from Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin helped New Zealand come home strongly, their efforts finally taking a toll on the well-credentialed Jamaicans.

The win kept New Zealand’s unbeaten record intact, ensuring they topped Pool A and avoided meeting Australia in the semi-finals. They now have two days off and will instead meet England in semi-finals on Saturday night (NZ time) while Jamaica will come up against Australia.

With an absorbing match hanging in the balance heading down the home straight, New Zealand turned in a powerful last stanza, shooters Jodi Brown and Ellen Halpenny weathering a torrid patch through the middle stages to take control in the latter stages while Kopua and de Bruin were pivotal throughout.

New Zealand were again without the services of shooting duo Maria Tutaia and Cathrine Latu, both still recovering from respective foot and calf injuries.

In just her third outing for New Zealand, it was a big occasion for Halpenny, in getting her first start against a top-four ranked team, slotting in at goal shoot to partner the experienced Brown in the circle.

The rest of the line-up was largely predictable with Liana Leota and Laura Langman pairing at wing attack and centre while Joline Henry, Kopua and de Bruin rounded out the defence line.

It didn’t take Halpenny long to become of age, the New Zealanders making a fluent, accurate and pacey start. Slick on attack with the wily Brown employing all her court craft against defender Stacian Facey combined with the positional play of Halpenny and the playmaking skills of Leota, the New Zealanders got off to a flyer.

The attacking effort was well matched with equally strong defensive play, captain Kopua to the fore with her aerial skills as Jamaica struggled to get the ball to towering shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid.

Leaping out to a six-goal advantage, New Zealand faced a late burst by a fast-finishing Jamaica who narrowed the gap to 14-11 at the first break.

The introduction of the experienced Casey Evering and usual shooter Romelda Aiken into the defensive circle on the resumption paid off handsomely for Jamaica. The Caribbean team broke the goal-for-goal deadlock as the two defenders, the willowy Aiken in particular, creating all sorts of problems for the New Zealand shooters.

Exerting more defensive pressure and getting the ball into the hands of the ever-reliable Fowler-Reid more often through the expert feeding of Shanice Beckford and hard-working centre Paula Thompson helped Jamaica wrest their way into the lead.

A frenetic finish to the quarter where de Bruin and Kopua picked off a succession of aerial specials limited the damage as Jamaica hit the main break with a tenuous 24-23 lead.

Brown and Halpenny swapped positions for the second half in a bid to cope with the menacing presence of Aiken who was lethal with her long reach and ability to snap up any missed shots.

The pressure was intense in both circles, missed shots costing New Zealand while at the other end de Bruin and Kopua were inspiring in turning ball over in an enthralling struggle as both teams threw everything into the contest.

The exploits of the defenders helped get extra ball into New Zealand hands while the crafty Brown played a defining role in setting up the shooting circle and helping snatch the lead back.

Continuing to play at a fast clip, New Zealand kept their noses in front through a well-executed quarter, setting up an exciting run home when they led 35-33 at the last break.

 

New Zealand Netball Team v Jamaica

NZ quarter-time line-ups:

Player:	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Casey Kopua (captain)	GD	GD	GD	GD
Laura Langman (vice-captain)	C	C	C	C
Jodi Brown	GA	GA	GS	GS
Leana de Bruin	GK	GK	GK	GK
Shannon Francois	-	-	-	-
Katrina Grant	-	-	-	-
Ellen Halpenny	GS	GS	GA	GA
Anna Harrison	-	-	-	WD (ON)
Joline Henry	WD	WD	WD	WD (OFF)
Cathrine Latu	-	-	-	-
Liana Leota	WA	WA	WA	WA
Maria Tutaia	-	-	-	-
Quarter Scores (NZ score first)	14-11	9-13	12-9	15-9
			FINAL SCORE	50-42

NZ Shooting Statistics:

Player:	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	TOTALS
Jodi Brown	9/11	7/8	7/13	8/8	31/40 (78%)
Ellen Halpenny	5/5	2/8	5/6	7/10	19/29 (66%)
Cathrine Latu	-	-	-	-	-
Maria Tutaia	-	-	-	-	-
				TEAM TOTAL	50/69 (72%)