JAMAICA’S senior netball team crushed South Africa 63-48 in the first game of the Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) on Friday evening.

The Jamaicans led through all quarters 17-12, 31-26, and 47-39.

The South Africans won the opening centre pass but lost the ball through a quick interception by the Jamaicans who failed to capitalise on their advantage losing it to the visitors who easily scored.

However, once the Sunshine Girls got into their groove they were able to take the lead which they built upon throughout the first quarter taking a five point lead at the end.

Experienced wing attack/captain, Nadine Bryan, also the most senior member of the squad, provided the grounding for a young team despite a bandaged right knee.

It was Bryan who was at the heart of the team throughout play and stayed on for all four quarters.

The Jamaicans held on to the advantage at the end of the second quarter taking it 31-26.

The early moments of the second half didn’t go quite the way of the locals as a few changes saw them lose the edge as the Proteas whittled the lead to three points.

Once the Jamaicans had regained their footing they once again took the upper hand taking the lead to nine points before going on to victory led by goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler with 49 goals from 54 attempts with Griffiths pitching in with 10 goals from 13 attempts and Walker with four from six.

The team was almost strange to look at missing all those familiar faces which have made up the team for much of the last decade and with a squad made up primarily of Under-21 players it was clear the home side is in a rebuilding mode.

Teach coach Oberon Pitterson-Nattie said there were moments she was pleased and others she was concerned.

“I thought that when they decided to play to Fowler they did a good job.  I thought it was them playing anxious causing them not to settle not to make good decisions.

The South Africans, who beat Jamaica’s Under-21 team 46-36 in a warm up game at the National Arena on Thursday evening, were led with 37 goals from 52 attempts by Chrisna Bootha and 11 goals from 13 attempts by Maryka Holtzhausen.

The team’s coach Elize Kotze, was pleased that the margin of defeat was much narrower than it was the last time the teams met at the World Championships in Singapore then they won by more than 20 points.

“Obviously I think the Jamaicans can see the South African side is getting stronger and that we’re working our way slowly but silently back” she said.

Teams –

JAMAICA – Nadine Bryan (Capt, WA), Jhaniele Fowler (GS), Anna-Kay Griffiths (Vanessa Walker) (GA), Kimone Tulloch (Patricia McCalla) (C), Sasha Gay Lynch (WD), Malysha Kelly (GD), Vangeleee Williams (GK)

Substitutes- Dhanyel Johnson, Shadian Hemmings, Patricia McCalla, Sabrina Spence, Vanessa Walker,

SOUTH AFRICA – Amanda Mynhardt (Capt, GD), Chrisna Bootha (GS), Maryka Holtzhausen (GA), Zanela Mdoloma (WA), Erin Burger (C), Nokuthula

Oegu (WD), Vanes-Mari Dutoit (GK)

Substitutes – Bongine Msomi, Precious Mthemba, Anneret Viljoen, Annemarie Frost, Mampho Tsotetsi