NEW ZEALAND (89) defeated SINGAPORE (21)

New Zealand dominated Singapore right from the get go with their slick ball movement and accuracy to post. The Silver Ferns were clearly too good for Singapore who simply could not match the intensity and precision of New Zealand who consistently poked holes in their defence and weaved the ball down the court. The Ferns kept Singapore to a mere three goals in the second while piling on 23 goals of their own credit to the likes of Karin Burger and Phoenix Karaka repelling any ball that came their way with six gains and four intercepts collectively for the term. Karaka’s performance only improved throughout the match finishing with a whopping 10 gains, six intercepts and five deflections. Overall the shooting accuracy and volume also proved to be the difference between the two sides with New Zealand sitting at 91 percent compared to Singapore’s 57 per cent. Te Paea Selby-Rickit led the way in attack with 37 from 39 from her three quarters while the likes of Maria Folau (27 from 28) and Ameliaranne Ekenasio all made their presence felt on the scoreboard. Singapore worked tirelessly throughout the game but were unable to quell the influence of the Ferns with the likes of Charmaine Soh, Kai Wei Toh and Xinyi Tan all struggling to convert under the post. Wing attack Kimberly Lim was impressive finding good space and using her dynamic footwork to try and hit circle edge and feed the ball into the shooters with 10 feeds for the game.

MALAWI (65) defeated BARBADOS (41)

The Malawi Queens jumped out of the blocks early and never really looked back. They were composed with ball in hand and made the most of their opportunities with accurate passes and clever movement across the court. Barbados put up a strong fight in the final term slotting 12 goals to 13 but that was not enough to draw back the margin going down by 24 goals to an exciting Malawi side. Joyce Mvula showcased her shooting prowess and dominance under the post for the Queens nailing 31 goals from 33 attempts while Jane Chimaliro also had a hot hand converting 23 goals from her 25 attempts at 92 per cent. In the defence end for Malawi Towera Vinkhumbo stood tall picking up five gains, two intercepts and three rebounds highlighting her ability to be a threat on the netball court. But Barbados goal keeper Shonette Azore-Bruce was not to be outdone by her opposition keeper racking up seven gains, five intercepts, four deflections and three rebounds. While Barbados struggled, shooter Shonica Wharton pulled out her bag of tricks in the goal circle with 15 goals from 18 attempts and was assisted by goal attack Shaniqua Thomas who finished with 12 goals and a whopping 17 centre pass receives.

ENGLAND (90) defeated SAMOA (24)

England were clinical against Samoa denying them any easy opportunity at goal and clogging up the space to cause confusion and force turnovers. With Layla Guscoth out of the picture, Tracey Neville was forced to toy around with positions but that did not seem to stop the Roses who created space and used the ball well time and time again. Jo Harten was back to her best showcasing her range with long bombs from just inside the circle and dazzling takes on the baseline to reign the loose ball in. The talented shooter finished with an impressive 41 goals straight proving how scarily accurate and damaging she can be alone. But Harten was not the only one having an impact at the post with fan favourite Rachel Dunn also owning the goal circle with 30 goals from 34 attempts. Chelsea Pitman was equally as impressive around the circle edge with Soli Rapati and Brooke Williams unable to stop her quick feeds into shooters with 28 goal assists for the match along with 18 centre pass receives the most of any player on the court for the Roses. Goal keeper Geva Mentor put on a clinic in defence notching up eight gains, five intercepts, nine deflections and one rebound denying Samoan goal shooters Tee Salanoa and Toa Tanimo opportunities under the post. However, both were accurate when able to get hands to ball with Salanoa sitting at 100 per cent with eight from eight.

UGANDA (52) defeated SCOTLAND (43)

Both sides put out a solid performance with the lead ebbing and flowing in the opening term before Uganda put their foot down and took full control of the match. The She Cranes tried out a few different combinations throughout the game with the side searching for the most damaging connections down the court and in an unconventional move coach Rashid Mubiru paired holding shooters Mary Cholock and Peace Proscovia together in the final term with the side reaping the rewards posting 12 goals for the quarter. Cholock was solid under the post with six goals from seven attempts while Proscovia was down on her normal shooting load only managing 19 from 25 for the match. But the real shining light for Uganda was Stella Oyella who showcased her netball smarts and skills to feed the ball into the circle and put up her fair share of shots with 27 from 28 at 96 percent the highest of any player on court. For Scotland, Emma Barrie took control in the goal circle using her height and holds to keep defenders at bay and convert a team high 23 goals while Lynsey Gallagher was also influential posting 18 goals from 20 attempts. Scotland centre Claire Maxwell was pivotal through the middle running hard both ways and constantly providing options around the goal circle amassing 27 feeds and 11 goal assists for her efforts.

AUSTRALIA (99) defeated SRI LANKA (24)

Australia scored the highest total so far this World Cup posting a whopping 99 goals one short from a century. It was a convincing performance from the reigning champions who piled on the pain throughout the game to keep Sri Lanka to a mere two goals in the last term. The Diamonds were clinical right across the court creating havoc for Sri Lanka who were stagnant with ball in hand and had no options across the court credit to Australia’s defensive pressure and three-foot marking. Caitlin Thwaites got the nod at goal shooter and made no mistake with the highly talented goaler showing her versatility both holding and moving in the circle to create headaches for Sri Lankan defenders Chathurangi Jayasooriya and Dharshika Abeywickrema who simply could not contain the explosiveness of Thwaites. The Diamonds goal shooter only missed the one goal for the game nailing 67 from 68 while partner in crime Steph Wood also impressed with her timely drives, lovely high shots and accuracy to post with 32 goals from 34 attempts. Kelsey Browne continued her hot form claiming another player of the match credit to her 43 goal assists from 48 feeds along with her three gains, two intercepts and 21 centre pass receives. Meanwhile the partnership between Sarah Klau and April Brandley was on full display with the two picking up 12 gains, five intercepts and 13 deflections between them while limiting Sri Lanka to 24 goals. Towering 208cm shooter Tharjini Sivalingam worked hard throughout the match scoring 16 goals but the ball struggled to get down there with the work of Gayanjali Amarawansa and Nauchalee Rajapaske often cut off by the Australian defence before the ball could even get to the circle.

NORTHERN IRELAND (49) defeated by ZIMBABWE (51)

Northern Ireland got out to a hot start skipping out to a four goal lead early before Zimbabwe worked their way back into the match credit to their desperation and intent. It was a close encounter between both sides with scores equal late in the second term thanks to a lift in intensity with the Warriors and Gems going goal for goal heading into the main break. The stalemate could not be broken with scores still even at three quarter time before Zimbabwe broke away in the final quarter with goal shooter Joice Takaidza shouldering the load in attack with a whopping 44 goals from 46 attempts at 96 per cent. Ursula Ndlovu and Sharon Bwanali also bobbed up at times to hit the scoreboard with seven goals between them at 100 per cent. The Gems defence proved that they were up to the task with Felisitus Kwangwa and Rudo Karume doing a wealth of work to regain possession. Kwangwa led the way with seven gains, three intercepts, six deflections, two rebounds and 23 centre pass receives highlighting both her defensive and offensive capabilities. Karume also starred with seven gains, two intercepts, nine deflections and two rebounds. For Northern Ireland, Noleen Armstrong was solid under the post with 29 from 38 while Emma Magee was accurate sitting at 83 per cent nailing 20 of her 24 attempts. Through the midcourt Caroline O’Hanlon was important creating space and feeding into the shooters amassing 20 goal assists.

JAMAICA (52) defeated by SOUTH AFRICA (55)

It was a clash of the titans with both countries trying to stake their claim on the competition and gain that number one spot in the pool. But in the end, it was South Africa that held onto the win by three goals. Despite the Sunshine Girls winning the second half of the game the SPAR Proteas jumped out to, too big of a lead for the Jamaicans to snatch the lead. The South African attack was spearheaded by prolific shooter Lenize Potgieter who made her presence well and truly felt under the post with 36 from 39 at 92 per cent. But her efforts were challenged by Jamaican shooting machine Jhaniele Fowler who showcased her ability to score quickly and accurately with 38 from 39. Shamera Sterling was electric in defence for Jamaica picking up four gains, two intercepts and one deflection while South African Karla Pretorius also highlighted her defensive skill with four gains, three intercepts and three deflections. But the battle was won in the midcourt with both the attack and defence end littered with stars for both sides. Bongi Msomi and Erin Burger were crucial through the centre third for South Africa with their experience and clever ball movement on show.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (67) defeated FIJI (56)

Trinidad and Tobago claimed their second win rendering Fiji winless throughout this stage of the World Cup. The Pearls worked tirelessly to try and cause confusion and force turnovers but the Calypso Girls proved too strong. A first quarter blitz from Trinidad and Tobago put them in good stead for the rest of the match and they never really looked back. Sam Wallace dominated under the post with 40 goals from 42 attempts at 95 percent while Kalifa McCollin also displayed her ability to hit the scoreboard with 21 goals, 19 centre pass receives and 13 goal assists. Defensively Shaquanda Greene was influential in repelling the ball from Fiji’s attack end with seven gains, five intercepts and eight deflections. The Pearls were accurate to post finishing with 92 per cent shooting accuracy with Lydia Panapasa leading the way with 33 from 35. Unaisi Rauluni was also handy in the goal circle posting 23 goals from 26 attempts while also doing a wealth of work out the front to feed the ball into Panapasa with 19 goal assists and a game high 25 centre pass receives.