KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls made a winning start to their Commonwealth Games netball competition after hammering Caribbean neighbours Trinidad and Tobago by 59 goals 81-22 in their opening Pool B game at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday.

The Jamaicans restricted Trinidad and Tobago to a Commonwealth Games low 22 goals, holding them to single digit scoring in all four quarters in a defensive masterclass.

The number three ranked Jamaicans dominated the contest, leading 24-5 after the first quarter, were up by 21 goals 43-12 at half time, and 60-20 after the third quarter before emptying the bench in the fourth quarter which they took 17-8.

UK-based Azara Wilmot who came off the bench in the second quarter, led the scoring with 33 goals from 41 attempts on her senior team debut with the Sunshine Girls.

The veteran Romelda Aikens scored 25 goals from 27 attempts, Shanice Beckford scored all 16 attempts with Rhea Dixon scoring seven of her 11 attempts.

Afeisha Noel scored 17 of Trinidad and Tobago’s goals from 19 attempts with Joelisa Cooper scoring the other five from seven attempts.

The Sunshine Girls will face New Zealand on Sunday before turning their attention to Uganda on Monday.

-Paul A Reid