SPANISH TOWN, Jamaica, CMC –Technical Director of netball in Jamaica, Jill McIntosh, says the final match of a three-game series against Barbados tested the fortitude of the squad in training for the Commonwealth games starting next month in Glasgow, Scotland.
Trailing 30-31 early in the fourth quarter Jamaica rebounded spectacularly to outscore the Barbadians and complete an easy victory in the end.
The game was the closest of the three, with the hosts winning the first 57-36 and the second 50-29.
“We needed more goals. They didn’t come but it was a great match for us. It was a good challenge and the girls needed to know that they were severely challenged by Barbados,” said McIntosh.
“So with two down they got to get themselves up and out of it. It doesn’t matter how you win you just got to win”.
McIntosh says as a result of the series with Barbados, selectors are now in a better position to pick the best combination of 12 players to take part in the games July 23rd to August 3rd.
The final squad of 12 will be announced July 2nd.
“We have put 17 players on the court. For us it’s about selection as it has been for Barbados. Some combination work better than others but we had to see them on court. It really helps to make decisions a little bit clearer for us,” said McIntosh.
“So from that perspective it has given us selectors a clear perspective on which combination of 12 players are better to go to Glasgow”.