KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls concluded the first round of the Fast5 World Series at the Christchurch Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand, experiencing a heavy 50-16 loss to the hosts on the second day (Jamaica time), marking their third consecutive defeat.

Despite winning their initial two games, Jamaica will now face Malawi for the fifth and sixth place after defeating the Africans 41-37 on the first day. New Zealand, led by Tiana Metuarau, who successfully executed three six-point shots from four attempts, secured a historic 34-goal margin, the widest in the two-day series.

Throughout the match, New Zealand maintained a lead of 11-6, 19-12, and 37-16 in the first three quarters before shutting out Jamaica with a dominant 13-0 performance in the final quarter. Four players from the New Zealand team scored in double digits, with Amorangi Malesala and Grace Nweke both contributing 11 goals, and Georgia Heffernan scoring 10.

Jamaica’s team captain, Romelda Aiken-George, led the scoring for the Jamaican side with 10 goals, while Gezelle Allison was limited to four, and Amanda Pinkney scored two goals.

-Paul A Reid