WORLD champions Australia crushed Jamaica’s senior netballers 63-51 in Game One of the 2011 Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) last night to take a 1-0 lead in the three-test series.

The Sunshine Girls began the first quarter furtively, winning the first turnover, though not managing to hold on to it as they kept the score level for the first five minutes before the visitors started pulling away after a few missed shots by Queensland Firebirds shooting star Romelda Aiken.

The Australians maintained a slim 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and kept the three-point advantage at the start of the second despite some fancy footwork matched by accurate shooting from energetic goal attack and captain Simone Forbes which sent the spectators into throes of delight.

It seemed coach Connie Francis was not pleased with the pace of the first quarter as she brought in experienced defender Sasher Gay Henry for newcomer Kimone Tulloch at wing defence, while Kasey Evering came in for goal defence Nicole Aiken Pinnock.

Forbes helped to narrow the gap to one point midway the quarter as the Jamaicans took the score back to 17-18 before the Diamonds proved their class by building a healthy five-point lead, 23-18.

They had widened that gap to 32-25 by the end of the second quarter.

The pace slowed markedly in the third quarter as the Sunshine Girls seemed unable to keep pace with their opponents, who continued to pile on the advantage, taking it to nine, then 10, then 14 points, led by goal-shooter Catherine Cox, who seemed almost bored as she expertly landed shot after shot.

Simone Forbes scored 20 from 22 attempts for Jamaica, while captain Sharelle McMahon had 32 from 38 for Australia.

It was the victory for 34th victory for the Aussies in 41 internationals between the teams, with three games drawn.

Teams:

Jamaica — Simone Forbes (GA), Romelda Aiken (GS), Nadine Bryan (WA), Paula Thompson (C), Kimone Tulloch (WD) (Sasher Gay Henry, Althea Byfield (GK), Nicole Aiken Pinnock (GD) (Kasey Evering) (Malysha Kelly) Jhaniele Fowler, Marsha Murphy

Australia — Natalie Medhurst (GA), Sharelle McMahon (GS, GA) (Catherine Cox), Madison Browne (WA), Natalie Von Bertouch (C), Kim Green (WD), Rebecca Bulley (GD), Susan Furhmann (GK),

Kate Beveridge, Lauren Nourse, Laura Getz, Amy Steel