The stage is set for what is expected to be a thrilling showdown between Jamaica’s Under-21 netball team and powerhouse England in the top-of-the table clash at the 2025 World Netball Youth Cup. The match is scheduled to begin this morning at 5:00 (Jamaica time) at Terecentenary Sports Complex in Gibraltar.

After victories against Tonga, Sri Lanka (by default), and a hard-fought win against Wales, the Jamaican team is without a doubt riding high on confidence.

The young Sunshine Girls pulled off a 61-43 victory against Wales at the Europa Sports Complex on Tuesday morning in front of a fair-sized crowd.

Head coach Annett Daley is optimistic about their chances in what could arguably be the match of the tournament so far.

“It was a gutsy performance from the girls against Wales. It was a difficult one. I mean, from the get go they [the girls] made a few errors and they had to push through for the win. They had to grind it out but it was a good one,” Daley told the Jamaica Observer.

Now the match against England is set to be a nail-biter as both teams are going to push each other to new heights. But for Jamaica’s Under-21 netball team, it is more than just a game — it is going to be a chance to prove themselves against the best.

The crowd will be cheering, the tension is going to be palpable, and the drama will definitely be intense. But for these young athletes, it is just another day on the court, where they will give it their all.

Daley acknowlegded that England are formidable opponents, but she was confident in her team’s abilities.

“England is a tough team. Defensive-wise, they have shown that they are very strong in that area, and they are also shooting. If you look at their games against the opponents that we played against, they [England] have done a very good job at keeping them at a particular level and also scoring as well. They are a strong opposition and we expect no difference when we are playing England,” explained Daley.

The victory against Wales ensured that the young Sunshine Girls are through to the quarter-finals, and according to Daley, her team had worked tirelessly to achieve their first goal: entering the next round as one of the top two teams. Now, Daley said that they were setting their sights on an even bigger target.

“We approached the tournament; our first goal was to enter the next round to be a part of the top two. The second goal now is that we would love to top the zone, so you know, that’s the second step,” Daley stated.

“It means that for Wednesday’s match our total focus is looking at some of the areas that we fell short today [Tuesday]. We have to look at how do we stay composed within the tough moments as it’s going to be important for that,” she added.

The Jamaicans had faced a tough start against Wales, trailing 1-3 in the opening few minutes of play and 5-10 with just over eight minutes to go in the first quarter. But then, something clicked. They found the “rhythm of the day”, and their game transformed. Pulling level with Wales at 10-10, they went on to dominate the quarter, finishing with an 18-15 lead.

This momentum shift was a demonstration to the team’s resilience and ability to adapt under pressure. They went on to win the other quarters, taking the second quarter 29-25, the third quarter 46-35, before wrapping up the game with a 18-point margin.

As they celebrated their win, Daley couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

“We are feeling up beat at the moment. You have to celebrate the wins and that’s something that I have worked with the girls for them to understand that it is important to celebrate their successes. We know that, however, it is short space of time because we have to now put it behind us and move into another gear. We are happy for the win because it places us into the top eight and so it is important and we are grateful,” Daley explained.

Despite some injuries, including a hit to the eye for centre/wing attack Shaqwan Hamilton and an ankle twist for goal attack Nickesha Powell, Daley remained hopeful as the team is determined to make their mark on the tournament.

“I picked up two injuries and I am not happy with that but I know the doctor [Michelle Holt] and the physiotherapist [Oriana Blackwood] are working on that and we will see how we move forward. One is a bit more severe than the other because you know the eye we have to watch that and to see what happens by the end of the day,” she said.

Jamaica’s goal attack Nickiesha Powell (right) prepares to pass the ball under pressure from Wales player Ellie Blackwell during the World Netball Youth Cup 2025 match.

Wing attack Tori Akinrinola (right) of Jamaica collects ball ahead of Mia Hall of Wales during the World Netball Youth Cup 2025 match.