Australia beat Trinidad & Tobago in Netball World Cup opener
Saturday 8 August 2015 12:49, UK
Australia opened their Netball World Cup campaign with a dominant win over Trinidad and Tobago on Friday as the Diamonds made another piece of netball history.
In the 1000th World Cup match since the tournament was first held in 1963, the Diamonds extended their winning streak to 20 games to equal Australia’s third-greatest winning streak achieved from 2001 to 2003.
Australia, who have not lost a Test match since the first match of the 2013 Constellation Cup series against New Zealand, made an early statement in Sydney with their 73-32 victory over the world No 10 Calypso Girls at Allphones Arena.
Australian coach Lisa Alexander rotated her line-up heavily throughout the match, utilising every player on her bench, with the Diamonds showing their versatility across the court.
The defending champions now turn their attention to their day two clash against Barbados on Saturday before their early blockbuster on Sunday against arch rivals New Zealand, who earlier won their opening match against Barbados 73-28.
Goal shooter Caitlin Thwaites was top scorer for the Australia with 26 from 32 in her half on court, while Erin Bell (18/19) also impressed in her half at Goal Attack.
After being carefully managed in the lead-up to the World Cup, with her foot in a moon boot for four weeks to manage soreness, Julie Corletto started the match on the bench with Sharni Layton opening at Goal Defence.
Bell, recalled to the team this year after missing the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was given the starting nod at Goal Attack alongside the rest of the team’s regular starters.
The Thunderbirds shooter was straight into the action, scoring the Diamonds’ first two of the match.
Trinidad and Tobago matched for the first five goals of the game in a physical opening before the Australia pulled out to a 16-5 quarter-time lead.
Trinidad and Tobago offered a little more resistance in the second quarter, but the Diamonds were able to extend their lead to 35-16 at the main break with Bell and Caitlin Bassett (17/18) only missing one goal each for the half.
Leading by 25 goals at the last change, Alexander made more changes for the final quarter, moving Bell to wing attack, Hadley to centre and Corletto to wing defence, while Layton and Bulley took the defensive roles in the circle.
It’s this flexibility and depth the Diamonds hope will drive them to a third-straight World Cup crown in Sydney.
