MELBOURNE – Jamaican netballers have been hailed for the flair and impact that they have brought the Super Netball League in Australia.
The six Jamaican players involved in the Super Netball League match between leaders West Coast Fever and defending champions Adelaide Thunderbirds share a dance after their contest last Saturday at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. (SNL photo)Organisers have highlighted the presence of several members of the Sunshine Girlz – as the Jamaican national team is known – led by ace goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, and irrepressible defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey in an article appearing on the league’s website following the fifth round of matches that ended on Sunday.
The article said that the League had no shortage of international superstars, but the clash between the West Coast Fever and Adelaide Thunderbirds well and truly showcased the Jamaican excellence the competition hosts.
Hosts Fever maintained their spot at the top of the table, edging out the defending champions Adelaide Thunderbirds in a nail-biting, one-point thriller, 57-56 at the RAC Arena in the western Australia city of Perth.
“With six Jamaican Sunshine Girls split evenly between the two teams, the battle was fierce and full of flair,” the article stated.
“Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is no easy beat, and with the likes of Shanice Beckford serving her the ball on a silver platter, the Fever had no issue with scoring.
“However, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson would not let it all go the Fever’s way, picking off deflections left, right and centre.”
The article added: “At the other end, (long-standing goal shooter) Romelda Aiken-George and (defender) Kadie-Ann Dehaney went head-to-head in another enormous battle, which well and truly highlighted the impressive agility and elevation of the Jamaican superstars.
“All close friends off the court, the six players united after the match for a brilliant Jamaican team moment, sharing a dance for the remaining crowd.”
Elsewhere, Shimona Jok, another Jamaica, won the Player-of-the-Match award for an impressive 50-goal performance that enabled Melbourne Mavericks to clinch a 69-62 win against Queensland Firebirds.
Jodi-Ann Ward, another notable Jamaican defender, worked in overdrive in the Sydney derby, but her side, Giants endured another league defeat when New South Wales Swifts, whose line-up included Trinidad & Tobago ace goal shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph, beat them 76-52.
The Jamaicans also featured prominently in the tournament stats after the first five rounds with Fowler-Nembhard, arguably the best goal shooter in the sport, unsurprisingly leading the scoring charts with 355 goals from 363 attempts.
The Jamaica national captain is also more than 100 goals clear of the next best scorer on the League, Donnell Wallam of the Firebirds.
Sterling-Humphrey leads the pack for deflections with 43, while Wilson has drawn level with her for interceptions at 20 apiece.
Under the post, Aiken-George remains has grabbed the most offensive rebounds of 30.
