‘Incredible’: Diamonds edge Jamaica to make netball World Cup final
By Adrian Warren
Australia have earned a shot at netball World Cup revenge against England after a thrilling 57-54 semi-final win over Jamaica in Cape Town earned them a rematch with the Roses in the tournament decider.
The game was tied 50-50 on Saturday going into the last five minutes, but a big play by goal keeper and player of the match Courtney Bruce helped turn the tide in Australia’s favour.
The game was neck and neck, but Courtney Bruce, left, helped seal Australia’s win. Credit:
Third-ranked England, who shaded Australia 56-55 in last Thursday’s final round of preliminary games, had earlier advanced to their first World Cup final with a 46-40 semi-final win over defending champions New Zealand.
“We played really smart with the ball, we were very, very patient, we had the movement,” said Diamonds captain and wing attack, Liz Watson.
“It was an incredible team performance.”
The final, which will start at 2am Monday (AEST), will be the first one in seven since 1995 not to be contested by Australia and New Zealand.
Bruce was massive in defence with two intercepts and four gains as the world’s No.1 side maintained their record of never having missed a World Cup final.
Cara Koenen of Australia in action during the Netball World Cup 2023 semi-final against Jamaica.Credit:
The score was tied at quarter and halftime, with neither side leading by more than three at any stage of the first 30 minutes.
Early in the third quarter, Australia had an 8-1 run in their favour, during which Bruce nabbed two intercepts as the Diamonds opened up a six-goal lead.
Jamaica goal keeper Shamera Sterling pulled off a couple of big defensive plays as the Sunshine Girls were on the right end of an 8-2 run which levelled the score late in the quarter.
Australia scored the last two goals of the quarter to lead 42-40, but previously unbeaten Jamaica piled on the first three of the final term to hit the front, before the Diamonds edged ahead down the stretch. .
Bruce’s world-beating West Coast Fever Super Netball teammate Jhaniele Fowler made 46 of 47 shots in her 100th appearance for Jamaica, but it was not enough to stop them suffering their first loss of the tournament.
“When you come up against Jhaniele you might not get every single ball but one in 10 is okay,” Bruce said.
At the shooting end, vice-captain and goal attack. Steph Wood (29/32) was rock solid for Australia in the second half after missing three attempts in the first, and goal shooter Cara Koenen (28/30) was also strong.
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich retained the same starting seven from the loss to England, but made numerous changes through the game, with midcourter Jamie-Lee Price doing well of the bench in an extremely physical contest.
“We knew that we’d need more that the seven out on court and It was just making the right time to inject,” Marinkovich said.
In the earlier semi-final, the scores were locked at the end of each quarter and with five minutes to go, but England, the only unbeaten team in the tournament, reeled off the last six goals of the game.
“I think tomorrow’s game is going to be a cracker,” Marinkovich said, looking ahead to the final.
Jubilant: Australia celebrates the win. Credit:
England, who shaded Australia by one goal on Thursday, had earlier advanced to their first World Cup final in the South African venue with a 46-40 win over defending champions New Zealand.
Bruce was outstanding in defence with two intercepts and four gains as Australia maintained their record of never having missed a World Cup final.
At the shooting end, vice-captain and goal attack Steph Wood (29/32) was rock solid in the second half after missing three attempts in the first half, while goal shooter Cara Koenen (28/30) was also strong.
“I’m just so proud of the group, we knew it was going to be a grind, Jamaica are a phenomenal team,” Bruce told Fox Sports.
Bruce’s West Coast Fever Super Netball teammate Jhaniele Fowler made 46 of 47 shots in her 100th appearance for Jamaica, who suffered their first loss of the tournament.
The score was tied at quarter time and halftime, with neither side leading by more than three at any stage of the first 30 minutes.
Early in the third quarter, Australia had an 8-1 run in their favour during which Bruce nabbed two intercepts as the Diamonds opened up a six-goal lead.
Jamaica goalkeeper Sham Sterling pulled off a couple of big defensive plays as the Sunshine Girls were on the right end of an 8-2 run which levelled the score late in the quarter.
But Australia scored the last two goals of the quarter to lead 42-40, before Jamaica piled on the first three of the final term to hit the front.
In the earlier semi-final, the scores had been locked at the end of each quarter and with five minutes to go, but England reeled off the last six goals of the game.
An emotional co-captain Layla Guscoth said: “This team has had a lot of criticism in the last year, everyone deserves [this] so much.
“We’re so grateful to get the chance to play in a World Cup final… we celebrate, we rest and we come back tomorrow.”
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