World Series: England vs Australia
11 October 2009
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The number crunchers and gamblers are suggesting England versus Australia will be the pairing for the Co-operative World Netball Series Grand Final tomorrow afternoon. It is best not to get ahead of the knock-out stage and perhaps stay focused on this game and this result.
England beat Australia 25-19. It is the first time England have beaten their antipodean rivals since the early 1980s and the win went down well.
Once again it was an impressive start by England who shut the Diamonds out of the game for nearly three minutes before they scored by which time the home side had netted three goals.
Fast Net is not just a tinkering of the rules it requires a different playing formula. Centre-pass, pass, pass shoot does not fit the bill and England have adapted the requirements and absorbed them into their play.
Defensively the home side were so strong with Mentor and Mkoloma outstanding around the court backed up with the rolling subs, denying the Diamonds quality possession and making them scrap for every bit of ball.
Geva Mentor said it was a case of business as usual even if they were playing Australia. “It was really intense out there and it was really tough but we’re just taking that attitude that whatever team we play against we just stick to our game.”
Australia levelled up the match with the first shot of the second quarter but that only galvanised England into responding with their superb athleticism rewarded with goals, Pamela Cookey literally bent over back-ways to get the ball to Jo Harten who netted her shot to take the lead to 8-5.
Quarter 3 and both teams played their jokers by calling the Power Play upping the ante and hyping the crowd to a new level. It was an outstanding quarter for young Serena Guthrie who was even wrestling for the ball on the ground with her opponent at one stage, “sometimes you’ve got to do whatever it takes”, she said after the match.
One pass later Australia conceded a penalty on the circle edge and Jo Harten landed her attempt for four points, all of a sudden there was a nine-point gap. But Australia are not the world’s best for nothing, two more double-point goals and the gap was just 5.
The mood in the MEN Arena was jubliant, hesitant, anticipant and even the non-netball fans were joining in the chants of ENGLAND ENGLAND the arena was one voice.
It was a fast flurry of end to end action, not necessarily goals and a huge relief when the countdown was completed and the home side remained undefeated and top of the table.
Australia: GS:Kate Beveridge GA:Susan Pratley WA:Kim Green C:Natalie von Bertouch WD:Renae Hallinan GK:Susan Fuhrmann
Reps: Catherine Cox, Natalie Medhurst, Lauren Nourse, Bianca Chatfield, Johannah Curran
England: GS: Jo Harten GA:Pamela Cookey WA: Karen Atkinson C:Jade Clarke WD:Sara Bayman GD:Geva Mentor GK:Sonia Mkoloma
Reps: Rachel Dunn, Serenia Gurthrie, Tamsin Greenway, Stacey Francis, Eboni Beckford-Chambers.
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