SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago were the only Caribbean side to find success as powerhouses Jamaica and minnows Barbados both suffered losses on day five of the Netball World Cup here Tuesday.
In Pool G of the qualification round at the Allphones Arena, T&T put away Zambia, 66-39, while the Sunshine Girls went down to World number two New Zealand, 55-48, Pool E despite being ahead at half-time.
Barbados were edged, 37-34, by Scotland.
The Trinidadians were led by goal shoot Samantha Wallace who shot 30 goals from 34 attempts while goal attack Kalifa McCollin supported with 17 from 19. Goal shoot Afeisha Noel finished with 12 from 15. For Zambia, Lucy Jere got 14 from 17 and Diana Banda, 14 from 16.
The first quarter was fairly competitive with T&T holding a five-goal lead at the end, 17-12, but they took command in the second quarter to lead 37-23 at the half.
Down the stretch, the Trinidadians kept things steady, extending their lead to 52-32 ahead of the final stanza.
World number four, Jamaica, meanwhile suffered their second defeat of the tournament, despite an outstanding performance from goal shoot Romelda Aiken.
She finished with 41 goals from 44 attempts but Jamaica were frustrated in their efforts to overcome the Silver Ferns, despite valiant attempts in each quarter.
Jamaica led 4-3, four minutes into the opening quarter but New Zealand hit back to lead 10-5 and take the quarter 14-11.
Behind accurate shooting from Aiken and Shanice Beckford who scored seven from nine overall, Jamaica then out-scored New Zealand 5-2 at the start of the second quarter, to tie at 16-16 after 3:30 minutes.
Jamaica then continued to dominate and were up 27-24 at the half-time break.
However, the Silver Ferns fought back to take the third quarter 16-10 and lead 40-37 at the start of the final quarter.
An Aiken goal at 3:05 into the quarter pulled Jamaica to within one at 42-43 but NZ pulled away again to take the victory.
They were led by goal attack Maria Tutaia who scored 36 from 43 while goal shoot Bailey Mes supported with 19 from 25 attempts.
In Pool H, Barbados trailed 17-22 at the half before pulling to within one, 28-29, at the start of the final quarter, but failed to find enough momentum in the final quarter to take the win.
Goal attack Nikita Piggott shot 17 from 21 and was supported by Faye Sealy with ten from 15.
For Scotland – ranked two places below the Barbadians in 11th – Lynsey Gallagher scored 14 from 18 and Lesley MacDonald shot 14 from 19.
