Despite a desperate last-quarter fightback Jamaica proved too strong for England last night as they clinched a tense 49-44 win to level the three match series at one apiece heading into the decider on Wednesday night in Sheffield.
With England having won the first match 63-51 the home side were looking to seal the series win before the final match had even begun. However the hosts failed to take the lead in the whole contest and will rue a number of missed chances to get a foot back into the game, while the Sunshine Girls showed a renewed passion and physicality to nullify their opponents.
England were blown away by Jamaica’s quick start as they raced into a 4-0 lead with England’s Rosie Allinson, who got the nod ahead of Jo Harten at GA, showing early nerves and rattling the ring.
England slowly worked their way into the game with Sasha Corbin and Serena Guthrie providing great feeds into Captain Pam Cookey who finished them with her usual flair. Allison then began to find her range and the quarter finished 14-12 to Jamaica. Coach Anna Mayes made some changes at quarter time with Allison moving to GS and Harten coming on at GA. Layla Guscoth made her debut at GD while Cookey replaced Corbin at WA.
England’s mid-court play began to improve in the second quarter and Jamaica began to look flustered, however England missed opportunities to level the score as they continually failed to convert their own centre pass by the time the half-time whistle blew the Jamaican’s had stretched into a 25-20 lead as England struggled to match the Caribbean side’s physicality and flair. Despite hard work by the defensive pairing of Ama Agbeze and Eboni Beckford-Chambers and the raucous home crowd support England just couldn’t close the gap as turnovers were wasted with missed passes in the final third.
Going into the final quarter Anna Mayes again rang the changes as she moved Cookey back to her favoured GA, Harten to GS and Corbin onto WA. The new defensive duo of Lindsey Keable and Eboni Beckford-Chambers beagn to read the Jamaican balls into the circle and pulled off some stunning intercepts. With ten minutes remaining England had clawed their way back to 38-39 but then in the space of two minutes the hosts twice failed to convert their centre pass to level proceedings and gain the momentum.
As the clock ticked down to the final whistle Jamaica retained the ball calmly and held their nerve under strong defensive pressure from England to hold on for a 49-44 victory and take the Series to a decider in Sheffield on Wednesday night when battle will recommence.
Beth Shine, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
