Australia sweeps Test series

Sunday, July 8, 2007

By Mark Hughes, Sportal

Australia has powered home to beat a gallant Jamaica 72-53 and sweep their Holden Netball Test Series at the Sydney Olympic Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The world-ranked No.3 Jamaicans held the Australians early before the home side showed its class to steamroll its opponents in the second half and secure a decisive 19-goal victory and clinch the Test series 2-0 after Thursday night`s narrow 66-62 win in Melbourne.

Australian goal shooter Sharelle McMahon shone for Australia up front, the von Bertouch sisters were at their industrious best, while skipper Liz Ellis had another strong game at the back, finishing over the top of her opposition after a tussle early on.

It was the visitors who started the better, bolting out to an early 6-3 lead courtesy of an effervescent mid-court of Sasha-Gaye Henry and Peter-Gay Thomas getting the ball directly to towering 1.9 metre goal shooter Romelda Aiken, who continued her impressive form in the series with a perfect 100 per cent (11/11) for the opening term.

But the dynamic Australian mid-court of Selina Gilsenan and siblings Laura and Natalie von Bertouch, managed to cut off the Jamaicans` supply to Aiken, and send the ball forward to sharp-shooters Sharelle McMahon (8/8) and Susan Pratley (11/12). The Aussie attack managed to find the net with regularity despite the intense attention of imposing goal keeper Kasey Evering to take the home side to a 19-14 lead at quarter time.

The physical nature of the match continued in the second term with plenty of bustle over the ball, particularly in Australia`s attacking third and on the fringes of both teams` shooting circle.

It was the Jamaicans who had the better of the exchanges pulling to within three before some inspired play in defence from Ellis halted the Jamaican scoring run and allowed Australia to maintain its five-goal advantage at half-time, leading 34-29.

Jamaican skipper Elaine Davies came into the game in place of Aiken at the start of the second half, and while the veteran is a revered goal shooter, Ellis just seemed to have an edge in mobility over her and managed to diffuse a succession of Jamaican attacks.

This allowed Australia to skip away to an eight-goal lead midway through the term as the von Bertouch sisters worked some dazzling plays with Pratley and McMahon to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The fresh legs of debutant Julie Prendergast, who came on the injured Mo`onia Gerrard in the second quarter, and Natasha Chokljat, who replaced the hard-working Selina Gilsenan helped the home side to power out to a decisive 55-42 lead at the final break.

Natalie Medhurst earned her first international cap when she came on for Pratley in the final term and made quite an impact in attack working well with Laura von Bertouch and McMahon, who continued to dominate under the net. At the other end Davies was forced from the field with a chest injury and the potent Aiken returned to the boards.

The Aussies fitness saw them dominate the final term with the only blight being when McMahon ruining her perfect shooting record for the game when she missed her two easiest shots of the night, unchallenged under the net, a few minutes before the final whistle.

Australia now prepares for its two-match Test series against world champs New Zealand in Melbourne and Adelaide this month, with the only concern, a calf injury to Gerrard.

Australia 72
McMahon 100% (34/36), Pratley 89% (31/35), Medhurst 100% (7/7)

Jamaica 53
Aiken 93% (42/45), Forbes 89% (8/9), Davis 75% (3/4)

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