SUNSHINE Girls Head Coach Sasher-Gaye Henry praised her team’s grit and determination against arch-rivals England’s Roses in the opening game of the Vitality Horizon Series, but emphasised the need for consistency to win the series.

In an electrifying match the Sunshine Girls staged an incredible comeback to secure a 49-49 draw against the Roses at AO Arena in Manchester, England, on Saturday — the first of two games at the venue. The second game is set for today at 9:00 am, Jamaica time.

“We showed great heart but we still have rough edges to fix,” Henry said in a post-game interview.

“Playing together for the first time in 15 months, I think, is a really big thing for us. This match starts our journey to the next Netball World Cup. I’m pleased with what I saw from the girls but consistency is crucial.”

Henry acknowledged England’s strong challenge but applauded her team’s resilience.

“England gave us a fair contest but our girls stood tall to the task,” she said. “They knew we were going to come hard at them, and I’m glad our girls delivered.”

The match got off to a promising start with both teams showcasing their skills. However, as the game unfolded, England’s quality began to shine through. Despite this, Jamaica’s relentless disruptions kept them within striking distance. The opening quarter ended in a thrilling 13-13 tie, setting the stage for an intense battle.

England seized the initiative in the second quarter, outscoring Jamaica 13-7. The Roses’ dominance was fuelled by Helen Housby’s pinpoint passing and clinical shooting, as well as Imogen Allison and Funmi Fadoju’s impressive defensive work. At half-time England held a 26-20 advantage, putting pressure on Jamaica to respond.

After trailing by six goals at half-time, the Sunshine Girls regained their footing and launched a spirited comeback. By the five-minute mark Jamaica trimmed the deficit to just one goal at 33-32, although missed opportunities allowed England to regain a three-goal lead, 38-35, entering the final quarter.

Determined to mount a comeback, Jamaica delivered a flawless fourth quarter. They levelled the score at 39-39 with over 11 minutes left, sparking an electrifying, end-to-end contest.

With time ticking away the Sunshine Girls summoned every last ounce of energy to seize the initiative. Jamaica edged ahead 44-42 with less than eight minutes remaining but England refused to yield, and a sloppy centre pass allowed the Roses to claw back into contention.

A pivotal offside turnover by Jamaica with less than three minutes left presented a golden opportunity to seal the game. However, the chance slipped away, and England capitalised to take a 49-47 lead with less than a minute remaining.

Just when all seemed lost, goal attack Shanice Beckford demonstrated ice-cold composure. With the clock ticking down Beckford seized the moment, securing the dramatic equaliser.

Latanya Wilson’s outstanding performance at wing defence earned her the Player of the Game award for with critical interceptions and relentless pressure on England’s attackers.

“I’m proud of our effort but there’s still work to be done,” Wilson said.

“We’ll take it step by step and give it our all. I think it was pretty much a close game, and we knew we were in it every step of the way. We came here to win and so getting a draw in the first game, I am proud of myself and the team’s effort.”

The teams will meet again in Jamaica for games three and four on November 25 and 26.

The Vitality Netball Horizon Series starts a four-year international competition, featuring two England-based and two Jamaica-based matches annually, fostering rivalry and growth in global netball.

This test series will reignite the rivalry between the Vitality Roses and the Sunshine Girls who are currently ranked second and fourth in the world, respectively.