Four years after limping to a ninth-place finish, Scotland’s Netball team showed just how far they have come as they pushed heavyweights Jamaica all the way in their Pool B match on Wednesday.
Reigning Commonwealth Games silver medallists and sitting six places higher in the world rankings than their opponents, Jamaica took the court as firm favourites. But, with less than a quarter of the match left, the women in blue were ahead and the SEC Hydro crowd believed.
Ultimately, a late rally, fuelled by four goals in just over four minutes from star goal shooter Azara Wilmot – including three unanswered which took Jamaica from behind to two ahead – secured the favourites a nail-biting 45-43 victory.
But it was the home heroes who left the court smiling.
“To be leading the world No.4 team, I don’t think Scotland has ever done that before,” goal attack Niamh McCall said. “They’ve got some of the best defenders in the world, so to put in a performance like that against the world No.4 team is incredible.
“To get that close, I’m just so proud of everyone.”
Four years after falling to a 78-34 pool-stage defeat to the same opponents, Scotland proved they are a very different prospect these days.
“Credit to our defence, they were incredible today, winning the ball and giving us the opportunity to take the lead,” McCall said.
“We’re very good with our short, sharp movement, so it’s about sticking to that. Hopefully we can keep challenging the teams in the world’s top five.”
With pool B leaders New Zealand taking on bottom-of-the-pile Trinidad and Tobago and second-placed Jamaica facing fifth-placed Wales, Scotland are now relying on seismic shocks to progress.
But, whatever happens, they have a chance to keep the good vibes rolling with a Thursday match-up versus world No.6 side Uganda.
“When we’re relaxed, we’re playing our best netball, and you can see that,” McCall said. “Have fun, keep smiling, stay relaxed.”
As for Jamaica, they know there is hard work ahead of they are to upgrade their silverware from Birmingham 2022.
“We’re not pleased with our performances over the last games,” Shanice Beckford said.
Defending champs march on after tough test
Favourites Australia faced the other unbeaten pool A team, South Africa, and the defending champions were made to work for their fourth straight win.
Held to a one-point lead in a high-quality opening quarter, Australia pulled away to head into half-time 11 ahead. But South Africa fought back to reduce the gap to just five points with two minutes to go before Cara Koenen and Kiera Austin scored six unanswered goals between them to make the 57-47 win look more comfortable than it was.
“I thought that was an amazing match,” Australia’s Jo Weston said. “Defensively they adjusted to what we were doing as the match went on.
“For us it is about being patient and taking opportunities when they arrive.”
This leaves all eyes on the final pool-stage match, tipping off at 21:00 local time on Thursday: a straight shootout between England – 94-32 victors over Tonga on Wednesday – and South Africa, with the winners heading to the semi-finals.
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