Diamonds Split Series in Jamaica

The Australian Diamonds netball team has split its three test series against Jamaica 1-1 after the Sunshine Girls produced an upset 54-51 win in Kingston in the third and final match.

The Diamonds took a 1-0 series lead last Thursday with a comfortable 63-51 win, inspired by a strong performance from WAIS athlete Susan Fuhrmann, who excelled in the goal keeper position.

Fuhrmann playing in the goal keeper position, shut out star shooter Romelda Aiken, limiting the hot shot to 22 goals, before Aiken was replaced in the third quarter.

Any thoughts of a one sided series were quickly buried, after Jamaica produced a spirited display in the second test to force a 49-49 draw against the world number two Australian outfit.

Fuhrmann again kept Aiken quiet, and was joined in the starting seven by fellow WAIS scholarship holder Kate Beveridge who hit eight goals before making way for veteran Natalie Medhurst.

Australia had trailed for much of the game, but briefly hit the lead in the fourth term. The Sunshine Girls fought back and leveled the match, keeping the third test alive.

Jamaica appeared to have Australia’s measure in the final test, with Aiken dominant against Queenslander Laura Geitz – who came in for Fuhrmann in the goal keeping position. Aiken shot at 94 percent, whilst the normally reliable Cox and McMahon had an off night for the Diamonds.

Beveridge came on an impressed for Australia in the shooting circle, earning praise from Australian coach Norma Plummer.

“Kate Beveridge came on and did an excellent job and when Nat Medhurst was on her, shooting was good, but our shooting overall in the first half was disappointing and we can’t afford to put up that many more shots when Romelda (Aiken) is shooting at over 90%,” Plummer said.

The stage is set for an exciting and competitive World Netball Championships in Singapore in July, with netball’s other powerhouse, the New Zealand Silver Ferns, only just holding out against England to win 42 – 40 in the first Test of their three-Test series in England.

– with Netball Australia