NETBALL

Netball World Championships 2007
Monday, 12 November 07 at Trusts Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand

Story by Jane Sng, Netball Singapore.

Singapore at World Netball Championships

Cook Islands’ Patti Te Huna (in green) and Singapore’s Premila Hirubalan (in red) in action during the match at the Netball World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. © Michael Bradley

Singapore missed out narrowly on a win today the New World Netball World Championships, losing 43 - 45 to the Cook Islands.

It was a painful loss for Singapore who were unable to hold off the more physical Cook Islands in the closest game of the tournament so far at the Trusts Stadium, Waitakere.

Singapore started brightly to lead 13-9 after the first quarter, with Tan Huiyan and Chen Huifen missing just two shots at goal.

Cook Islands made some timely intercepts and with their hard-running midcourt making inroads, they took the second quarter 12-7 and the halftime lead 21-20.

However, a determined Singapore and a 5-2 run late in the third quarter and some good interceptions allowed Singapore back into the match and the lead 32-31.

The lead continued to swap throughout the final quarter, with Singapore twice fighting back after falling behind by three goals, until Cook Islands made a key intercept, converted the chance and held on for the two-goal win.

A spirited Singapore team, together with the screaming Singapore supporters, fought till the last second, but were unable to convert their chances.

Singapore will play Jamaica in their last pool match tomorrow at 4.10pm (Singapore time: 11.10am) before playing their quarter-final game against Samoa or Trinidad and Tobago (3rd place team in pool B) on Wednesday.

Singapore will now go on to fight for the highest possible position from 9th to 16th.

In the other pool C game, Jamaica beat Fiji by 78 - 35. In the pool A match, Trinidad and Tobago gave Australia a good run for the ball and won the support of the New Zealand and neutral fans. In the pool D match, Malaysia found no answers against England and were trounced 99-16.

Singapore Starting Team

GS - Tan Huiyan
GA - Chen Huifen
WA - Pearline Chan
C - Charlene Porima
WD - Zhang Ting Jun
GD - Premlia Hirubalan
GK - Jean Ng

Scores

1st Quarter: 9 - 13
2nd Quarter: 21 -20
3rd Quarter: 31 - 32
4th Quarter: 45 - 43

Other Results

Pool A
Malawi 44 Botswana 32
New Zealand 86 Wales 24

Pool B
Samoa 60 Scotland 39
Australia 78 Trinidad and Tobago 34

Pool D
England 99 Malaysia 16
South Africa 56 Barbados 36