- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER.
Australia's Under-21 goalkeeper Susan Furhmann rises high for a ball over Jamaican goal shooter Latoya Thomas during the first game of a three-Test series at the National Indoor Sports Centre last night. Looking on at right is Jamaica's goal attack Kadian Mendez. Australia won 48-41.
Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA'S UNDER-21 Sunshine Girls suffered a 48-41 defeat at the hands of their Australian counterparts in the first game of a three-Test friendly series at the National Indoor Sports Centre last night.
The game started at an intense pace with the Australians making less errors than the New Zealand visitors two weeks ago.
SOLID QUARTER
The visitors ran out 9-3 leaders but were pulled back to 13-8. Jamaica continued their fightback to pull the game to within two goals at 23-21 in the second quarter.
Australia then played a solid third quarter with very few errors to come away with a 35-29 lead. Jamaica tried to claw their way back into the game but had to contend with the shooting of Susan Pratley, who knocked down 34 goals from 37 attempts to lead the Australians.
Jamaica's leading scorer was Latoya Thomas, who got 19 goals from her 34 attempts, while Romelda Aiken, who only played in the final quarter downed 12 of 13.
GROWING PAINS
After the game, Jamaica's assistant coach Joan Anderson-Hylton attributed her team's performance to growing pains.
"We were looking at certain aspects of the game tonight. We wanted them to focus on decision-making and that was one of the contributing factors (to the loss) and two, we had a lot of injuries if you notice, we had to be taking some of the girls off." Anderson-Hylton explained.
Australian coach, Michelle Wilkins, lauded the shooting of Pratley and her team's use of the ball for the victory.
"I thought it was pretty tough, Australia just had a little bit better use of the ball and out vice-captain Susan Pratley shot extremely well under pressure for the whole match," she said.
The series continues tomorrow at the same venue.
