JAMAICA’S Sunshine Girls finished fourth at the 2011 Fastnet World Netball Series at the Liverpool Arena in England yesterday after a gallant 24-32 effort against Australia in the third place play-off as England saw off the challenge of New Zealand to take the top prize.

In their match-up against former winners Australia, the Jamaicans were behind from start to finish 6-8, 10-14, and 16-24.

The Jamaicans were earlier edged 30-29 in their semifinal match-up with New Zealand.

The local netballers, playing to an arena packed with Jamaicans, led the first quarter 7-5, and were 12-10 up at the half-time break before the Silver Ferns took the initiative and the lead 24-22 at the end of the third quarter before moving on to victory by a mere point.

The Jamaicans had earlier registered group game wins against both England and New Zealand, although they lost their opening encounter to Australia on Friday.

“We came here with a young side, average age 21 and they gave a good account of themselves. They made us so proud today (yesterday),” said Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) president, Marva Bernard.

“We are rebuilding our Sunshine Girls team and the future looks good. We can see what we need and what we need to do,” she said.

Team coach Oberon Pitterson told the Observer that she was not disappointed as the young team gave a good account of themselves.

“They really played above expectations. We did well in the preliminary… we lost by one point a game that could have gone either way in the semifinal and we didn’t rebound in the third place play-off. (But) despite this being a young inexperienced team, they really did well,” Pitterson said.

Pitterson said the tournament gave the Jamaicans a chance to see what they have to do before moving on to their next big show.

“We have a chance to really work on stuff we need to work on. Our decision-making, our skills, our combinations. We have a bit of time to hone the skills of the young players and get them working with the senior players,” she said.

Meanwhile, hosts England thrashed the Aussies in their semifinal 27-17 after quarterly scores of 12-8, 22-12 and were later crowned eventual champions after stopping New Zealand 33-26 in the final.

Jamaica team captain Nadine Bryan was named Player of the Series. The national team returns to the island today.