This week in netball: Gold Coast Titans announce a team as England and Scotland win
THERE was plenty of netball news this week from across the netball world, from local level right up to the international level. Here’s what you may have missed
The big news from an Australian perspective came out of the Gold Coast Titans.
Last weekend it was announced that the NRL club have applied for a license to enter a team in the Sapphire Series.
The Sapphire Series is one tier below the Suncorp Super Netball competition, and it’s Queenland’s state competition. This means the aim is for the Titans’ new team is to start there, climb the ranks and eventually join the Suncorp Super Netball League sometime in the future.
The Titans also announced who their inaugural coach will be.
Former Silver Ferns midcourter Temepara Bailey will be the side’s first coach.
This news comes on the back of Netball Tasmania putting in an application for a team for next season.
All the big international netball news comes from the UK this week, as England and Scotland both registered wins in their respective series.
This week England began a three test series against Jamaica, with the remaining two tests to played this weekend.
The first game of the series saw the Roses take a 10-goal win to defeat the Sunshine Girls, kicking away in the third term after trailing at half-time.
Jamaican defenders Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Shamera Sterling were on top against English shooters Jo Harten and Helen Housby early, and it was the Jamaicans who held a two goal lead heading into the main break.
Things changed in the second half, as Player of the Match Eleanor Cardwell came on late in the second quarter. She clicked well with Harten and wrestle the momentum back towards the English side. Cardwell shot at 90 per cent efficiency, as England recorded 30 goals to 19 in the second half to take the win.
Elsewhere in the UK, it was Scotland who comfortably accounted for Barbados in game one of their two test series.
The Thistles were absolutely dominant against Barbados, running out 42-goal winners and Barbados never looked like winning the match. Former Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander, who was commentating the game, deemed the win worthy of a “top five” nation.
Match two of the series took place overnight.
Suncorp Super Netball
Gold Coast Titans to enter netball team in Sapphire Series
2021 Surprise packets – Sunday Aryang
International
Roses bloom in third quarter to win Roses Reunited first test
Reunited Roses Series: Eleanor Cardwell Player Focus
Top Performers – Roses Reunited Series: Game 1
Thistles bloom to dominate opening test with Barbados
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