England head coach Jess Thirlby admitted it would take some time to get over defeat by Australia in the Netball World Cup final, but believes her squad can be proud of their performances throughout the tournament.
The Roses were making their maiden World Cup final appearance and knew they had to be at their best to win the trophy against a side they had edged out by just a point in their group-stage match.
But Australia dominated the turnover battle and, after the first-quarter honours were shared, steadily built an unassailable lead to run out comfortable 61-45 winners and secure a 12th World Cup crown.
“We are really grateful for that silver medal and over time I think that will sink in, with that bit of history we made (in reaching the final), but right now it is a measure of the belief we had in ourselves, the route we took to the final… (that we are disappointed),” Thirlby told BBC Sport.
“We are obviously going to be gutted with a losing margin like that in our first final, but such is the difference between a team that has been in 12 of them and a team that has just broken into their first one, it’s a tough lesson.
“Today was always going to be a tough ask, you just can’t throw ball like that against Australia in a final. If we do that, we need to find a way to win it back. Unfortunately both of those things eluded us for long periods during the match.
“We fought very hard in the first half to keep a foothold in it, but you could kind of feel we didn’t quite have the flow and the confidence.”
England – bronze medallists at the last three World Cups and six times overall – had built on their group win over the Diamonds to go on to beat New Zealand as they booked a first World Cup final appearance.
Despite the setback, Thirlby feels the squad can return stronger.
“For us now it’s OK to feel a little bit disappointed just because of the level of belief and the capability of this team,” she said.
“I am incredibly proud despite the final result, we absolutely deserved to be there.
“We had to battle to get there and it’s just proven to us that you’ve got to be able to go again in a big game against the number one, and we just fell short today.”
Australia mid-court Ashleigh Brazill brought the curtain down on her netball career with a World Cup winners’ medal.
The 33-year-old – set to retire after the tournament – felt the Diamonds set the record straight following their defeat to England in the group stage.
“To beat England like that, they beat us in the group and everyone loved what Helen (Housby) said, that they were fitter and more energetic than us, that just fired things up,” Brazill told BBC Sport.
“The fact we have done it the way we wanted to, playing some of the best netball we have played in a long time. I’m just so proud of the girls.
“It has taken all of us to get here, the entire 22, all of us, and the fact we are stood here world champions, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending.”
Caribbean players occupy top positions on Suncorp Stats Leaderboards
Following another series of top-notch performances over the weekend, it comes as no surprise that Caribbean players continue to line the statistics leaderboards in the early exchanges of the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball League campaign.
Jamaica's Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Shanice Beckford, assisted West Coast Fever to a thumping 75-59 win over New South Wales Swifts, the team of Trinidad and Tobago stalwart Samantha Wallace-Joseph, while other Jamaicans, Romelda Aiken-George, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, and Latanya Wilson, were instrumental in Adelaide Thunderbirds’ 69-49 win over Jodi-Ann Ward’s GIANTS.
Fowler-Nembhard, an imposing figure in the shooting circle, scored 61 goals from 62 attempts in the Fever’s latest win, and remains top of the tables in several categories – namely, Nissan Net Points (490.5), goals (243) and attempts (248). Aiken-George (148 goals and 171 attempts) and Wallace-Joseph (138 goals and 148 attempts) are fourth and fifth in the goals and attempts categories respectively.
Beckford has been finding her footing at the two-point Super Shot line in her debut season, but it is the 86 centre passes received that has her atop that category, jointly with Fever’s teammate Alice Teague-Neeld and Liz Watson of the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Samantha Wallace-Joseph (second right) prepares to receive the ball, while under pressure from Kadie-Ann Dehaney.
Aiken-George retains top spot for offensive rebounds with 22 to her name, with Fowler-Nembhard (13) fifth in that category, while Sterling-Humphrey (8) has slipped third in the defensive rebound category, behind Remi Kamo (10) and Sarah Klau (8).
However, Sterling-Humphrey is not to be beaten elsewhere though, as she maintains a strangle hold atop the deflections and intercepts tallies with 27 and 15 to her name. Her teammate Wilson sits fourth and second on the deflections and intercepts lists with 22 and 14.
Meanwhile, Sunday Aryang and Ash Ervin have taken second and third for deflections with 26 and 25 respectively.
Teague-Neeld remains on top of the goal assists leaderboard with 107 to her name, followed closely by Liz Watson (96).
Sophie Dwyer and Kiera Austin have not shied away from the Suncorp Super Shot, sitting equal first with 32 attempts apiece, and both within the top five for successful attempts. Helen Housby sits top of the table for successful shots with 22 to her name from 29 attempts.
Fowler-Nembhard scores 59 as West Coast Fever secure dominant win over New South Wales Swifts to remain unbeaten in in Suncorp Super Netball League
The West Coast Fever delivered a commanding performance against the New South Wales Swifts in the Suncorp Super Netball League on Sunday, maintaining their unbeaten streak with a resounding 75-59 victory. The win marks the Fever's fourth consecutive triumph in the league.
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard led the charge for the Fever, showcasing her shooting prowess with an impressive tally of 59 goals from 60 attempts. In contrast, Samantha Wallace-Joseph of the Swifts managed 34 goals from 35 attempts.
The match was evenly poised at halftime, with the Fever holding a narrow 35-33 lead. However, they seized control in the second half, outscoring the Swifts 40-26 to secure a decisive victory.
Both teams displayed high-intensity play from the outset, with the ball swiftly transitioning between players and into the hands of their sharpshooters, Fowler-Nembhard and Wallace-Joseph. The Fever capitalized on their offensive strategies, utilizing precise passing to set up scoring opportunities for Fowler-Nembhard against a formidable Swifts defence.
Although the Swifts showed promise in the second quarter, tightening their defensive pressure and causing turnovers, the Fever regained momentum after halftime. Fowler-Nembhard continued to dominate in the shooting circle, supported by a cohesive midfield effort led by Kelsey Browne.
Defensively, Sunday Aryang played a pivotal role for the Fever, effectively neutralizing key Swifts players and disrupting their attacking flow. The Fever's relentless defensive pressure and cohesive teamwork ultimately propelled them to a convincing victory.
With this win, the West Coast Fever maintain their unbeaten run in the Suncorp Super Netball League, showcasing their championship potential early in the season. The team's performance underscores their depth and skill across all facets of the game, setting a strong foundation for future success in the competition.
Jamaican trio on song as Thunderbirds trounce struggling GIANTS by 20 goals
Jamaica’s trio of Latanya Wilson, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, and Romelda Aiken-George again produced strong performances, as their Adelaide Thunderbirds team outclassed GIANTS Netball 69-49, at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on Saturday.
Aiken-George led from the front with 29 goals from 35 attempts, backed by Lucy Austin, who scored 23 goals from 24, including two super shots, while Lauren Frew (9 goals from 9 attempts), and Georgie Horjus (8 goals from 9 attempts), also got in on the act.
While the shooters were clinical for the most parts, it was the defensive work of Matilda Garrett, Sterling-Humphrey, Wilson and others, that limited GIANTS –the team of another Jamaican Jodi-Ann Ward –in the 20-goal win.
Sophie Dwyer, with 26 goals from 27 attempts, and Jo Harten 18 goals from 24 attempts led the scoring for the GIANTS, while Matisse Letherbarrow got the other five goals.
The Thunderbirds, who entered the contest with two wins and a loss, were always favoured to come out tops, as the GIANTS struggle to find their footing, and are yet to secure a win this season.
With the use of a variety of combinations from her ten-strong roster, Head coach, Tania Obst, ensured GIANTS didn’t stand a chance, as her Thunderbirds team won all four quarters, 18-12, 19-11, 17-13, and 15-13.
Though Jamie-Lee Price was crucial for the GIANTS, doing a wealth of work in both attack and defence for her team, her hard work was not always rewarded as a few shots were missed and unforced errors were made. That, coupled with the fact that Adelaide’s defenders Garrett and Sterling-Humphrey applied intense pressure, made life even more difficult for the GIANTS.
The Thunderbirds’ fine form continued after the half-time interval, while the GIANTS once again struggled to stay in touch with their host. Despite being down, Dwyer’s confidence for the GIANTS didn’t waver and she found her rhythm which was important for the visitors.
However, as it felt like there was a momentum shift, Dwyer broke on the centre pass, giving up much-needed possession, and the positional swap between Wilson and Sterling-Humphrey made life miserable for the GIANTS, as it caused confusion for their shooters in the circle.
The Thunderbirds went into the final period 54-36 up and denied the GIANTS of almost any opportunity to get the ball down court smoothly and easily.
Before the final Power Five, Obst again changed combinations as the Thunderbirds pressed the ascendancy and completed the handsome victory. They now have three wins from four games.
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