KINGSTON, Jamaica – England destroyed the Sunshine Girls by 22 goals to secure the bronze medal in the third-place playoff at the Netball World Cup in Sydney Australia.

The Jamaicans had a solid start to comfortably take the first quarter 16-11. But, they were expertly countered at the beginning of the second by England, who went on to put on a netball workshop. They took the last three quarters in authoritative fashion, after erasing the Jamaicans’ five-goal deficit with disdain.

The English made light work of the Jamaicans after replacing goal defence Eboni Beckford-Chambers with Sonia Mkoloma in the second quarter. They comprehensively won the remaining quarters 17-7, 17-10 and 21-11.

The defensive trio of Mkoloma, Serena Guthrie and Geva Mentor along with goal-shooter Joanne Harten wreaked havoc on the hapless Sunshine Girls. The English women picked off passes and lobbed in long-range goals effortlessly. The Girls, who appeared fatigued, were weighed, measured and left wanting. Jamaica’s first-quarter rhythm was permanently disrupted by the in-form four – whose display of speed, accuracy and stamina were near flawless.

Harten netted an incisive 52 goal from 59 attempts, while her teammate Pamela Cookey scored 14 from 18. The Jamaican attacking trio of Aiken (26/28), Jhaniele Fowler-Reid (12/13) and Shanice Beckford (6/6) were no match for their English counterparts.

England dominated all thirds of the court, tagging the shell-shocked Jamaicans casualties of the onslaught. According to World Cup statistics, the Sunshine Girls technical staff made no less than 20 changes – all occurring in the second half of the match.

Sunshine Girls Substitutions:

Paula Thompson from WD to C

Sasher-Gaye Henry from WA to WD

Nicole Aiken-Pinnock from Bench to GK

Nicole Dixon from C to Bench

Khadijah Williams from Bench to WA

Stacian Facey from GK to Bench

Romelda Aiken from GS to Bench

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid from Bench to GS

Vangelee Williams from GD to WD

Khadijah Williams from WA to Bench

Stacian Facey from Bench to GD

Nicole Dixon from Bench to C

Sasher-Gaye Henry from WD to WA

Paula Thompson from C to Bench

Vangelee Williams from WD to GD

Shanice Beckford from GA to Bench

Stacian Facey from GD to GK

Nicole Aiken-Pinnock from GK to Bench

Romelda Aiken from Bench to GA

Paula Thompson from Bench to WD

At the end of the fixture, Captain Nicole Aiken-Pinnock expressed disappointment but promised the team would review their performance at the World Cup and regroup.

Gorgette Beckford