Singapore go down to world number 3 Jamaica

NETBALL

Netball World Championships 2007
Tuesday, 13 November 07 at Trusts Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand

Story by Jane Sng, Netball Singapore.

Singapore went down 35-91 to Jamaica today at Netball World Championships.

A spirited Singapore started brightly against the Jamaicans and the scores were level for the first 5 minutes. Jamaica began to pump high balls to their 1.96m tall Goal Shooter, Romelda Alken, and Singapore's defence had difficulty containing her. Jamaica began to pull away, finishing 26-11 after the first quarter.

Premila Hirubalan took over as Goal Keeper in the 2nd quarter and was the darling of the crowd, intercepting some balls which Jamaica were pumping to Alken. The second quarter ended 47 - 21.

A determined Singapore worked hard through to the last second and the match finally finished 91-35.

Finishing 4th in their group in the round games, Singapore will now go on to play for the 9th to 16th world ranking placing and will meet Trinidad and Tobago, who finished 3rd in pool B, in the quarter-finals tomorrow.

Singapore met Trinidad and Tobago twice earlier this year during the 5 Nations and had beaten them on both occasions by more than 15 goals. A win in tomorrow's game will put Singapore in the frame for a 9th to 12th placing and they will go on to play the winner of the Barbados vs Botswana match.

In the other pool C game, Cook Islands created an upset by beating Fiji 42-36. This allowed them to finish ahead of Fiji to qualify for the top 8.

Singapore Starting Team

GS - Jeanine Heng
GA - Tan Huiyan
WA - Wendy Tan
C - Pearline Chan
WD - Zhang Ting Jun
GD - Premlia Hirubalan
GK - Jean Ng

Scores

1st Quarter: 26-11
2nd Quarter: 47-21
3rd Quarter: 67-26
4th Quarter: 91-35

Other Results

Pool A
New Zealand 76 Botswana 20
Malawi 55 Wales 52

Pool B
Australia 93 Scotland 20
Samoa 52 Trinidad and Tobago 48

Pool D
Barbados 62 Malaysia 38
England 62 South Africa 32