Australia’s netballers have basked in stretches of pure dominance in a 31-goal trouncing of a sub-strength Jamaica in the first Test.
The Diamonds made a flying start with the initial six goals in tonight’s comprehensive 72-41 victory at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
And by half-time in the series opener of the three-Test series, Stacey Marinkovich’s team had raced to a 12-goal break after repelling two comebacks from a Jamaican squad missing a batch of star players.
The world number three Sunshine Girls are without star shooters Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Romelda Aiken-George, among other stalwarts.
And the world number one Australians exposed the talent gap with a ruthless display before 6,704 spectators — save for a couple of first-half scares.
The Diamonds made an ominous start to lead 6-0 inside three minutes of the game as captain Liz Watson and centre Kate Moloney orchestrated the early onslaught.
But Jamaica gradually edged back into the contest, and with a tick over two minutes remaining in the first quarter, its deficit was only three goals.
The Australians then put their foot down again to create a six-goal buffer at quarter-time, 16-10, with shooters Sophie Garbin (10 from 10) and Kiera Austin (six from six) blemish-free.
Australia started the second quarter strongly to increase the lead to nine goals before Jamaica again climbed off the canvas to sneak within three goals.
But the Diamonds responded with aplomb, scoring nine of the next 10 goals en route to a 34-22 half-time lead.
By midway through the third quarter, Australia had powered to a whopping 22-goal advantage, 46-24, and had the visitors at their mercy.
The Diamond’s Kiera Austin was awarded player of the match. (AAP: Matt Turner)
The Diamonds led 54-30 at the last change before cruising to victory.
Garbin logged 17 goals from 18 attempts and Austin 21 from 23 before both were substituted as coach Marinkovich tried fresh shooting combinations in Cara Koenen (25 from 27) and Sophie Dwyer (nine from 11).
Marinkovich also swung changes in midcourt and defence — she deployed all 12 players in her squad in a test of depth ahead of netball’s showcase tournament at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, starting late July.
“We are definitely exploring our depth and making sure that we have got great versatility,”
Marinkovich said.
“And that’s the way the girls have been training — we have been able to adapt, and we are using people’s strengths to shift things out in a game, as well as strategy.
“So it’s nice to have that option, and I thought the players that came on brought that to the court and had an impact.”
The Jamaica series continues in Perth on Sunday and concludes in Melbourne next Wednesday.
AAP
