England outshine Jamaica

England continued to impress at the Co-operative World Netball Series with a 27-24 victory against Jamaica on Saturday.

Hosts remain unbeaten at Manchester tournament

England continued to impress at the Co-operative World Netball Series with a 27-24 victory against Jamaica on Saturday. The tournament in Manchester is being played under the Fast Net rules - netball's equivalent of Twenty20 cricket. The innovations being showcased at the MEN Arena include teams being able to score two points by shooting from outside the traditional scoring circle and rolling substitutions. The format is also slimmed down to four quarters consisting of six minutes each and both sides get to nominate one Power Play quarter during which points count double. England made good use of the rolling substitutions to open a 7-5 advantage over Jamaica in the opening quarter. Both teams opted to use the Power Play in the second quarter - England extending their lead to 17-11 at the mid-point, although neither side managed to land a four pointer. Jamaica's "Sunshine Girls" edged a tightly contested third quarter to reduce their deficit to 23-18 heading into the final six minutes.

Comeback

The visitors continued to press at the start of the final quarter and got back within three points at 24-21. But England's Jo Harten netted a crucial score from the edge of the circle and the hosts rallied to close out the result. The victory maintained England's unbeaten record and they are now tied with Australia at the top of the group standings. "We've really embraced it and our boundaries are opening up all the time" said England head coach Sue Hawkins. "I have full trust in all my bench and they're coming out and strutting their stuff. We have now just got to knock-off one of the big guns and see what we can do." England: GS Rachel Dunn, GA Pamela Cookey, WA Tamsin Greenway, C Karen Atkinson, WD Sara Bayman, GD Sonia Mkoloma, GK Geva Mentor
Replacements: Jo Harten, Jade Clarke, Serenia Gurthrie, Stacey Francis, Eboni Beckford-Chambers Jamaica: GS Romelda Aiken, GA Simone Forbes, WA Nadine Bryan, C Nichala Gibson, WD Sasha-Gaye Henry, GD Paula Thompson, GK Sasha-Gay Lynch
Replacements: Nardia Hanson, Crystal Gordon, Tracy- Ann Robinson,Malysha Kelly, Nicole Aiken