Jamaica started well, outscoring their opponents 11-10 and 26-25 at the end of the first quarter and half-time, respectively. Jamaica’s lead was largely down to outstanding performances from Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Shamera Sterling, who caused England’s shooters significant challenges in the first half.
England’s defensive players turned the tables against Jamaica after the interval Eboni Usoro-Brown kept Jhaniele Fowler quiet and forced multiple changes in Jamaica's attack-end as the home side took control of the game to outscore Jamaica 16-9 in the third quarter and 14-10 in the fourth to pull off a commanding victory.
Fowler scored 40 of 41 attempts for the Sunshine Girls, who also got five goals from Shanice Beckford.
Jo Harten scored 30 of 39 and Eleanor Cardwell 20 of 22 for the Roses.
England had lost four of their last five games against Jamaica.
The second and third Tests will be played on December 4 and 5 at the Motor Point Arena
A rash of turnovers, many of them unforced and contact penalties saw the Caribbean side fall away to a 67-56 defeat to the Silver Ferns. This after being even with the winners at half time.
Following a strong opening when they were down 16-15 at the end of the first quarter, Jamaica rallied to win the second quarter 15-14 and go into half-time 30-30.
However, any chance that Jamaica would maintain the intensity in the third quarter went out the window as the Caribbean women were sloppy with the ball, committing turnovers that allowed the Silver Ferns to pull away and win the quarter 19-11 and open up an eight-point lead.
Jamaica made a better fight of it in the fourth quarter but New Zealand’s efficiency kept them at bay as the Silver Ferns outscored Jamaica 18-15.
Jhanielle Fowler was outstanding for Jamaica scoring 46 of her 47 attempts. Shanice Beckford also shot well, scoring 10 of her 11 attempts as her team tried in vain to rally.
Maia Wilson scored 44 of 47 attempts for New Zealand, who were a cut above Jamaica for the second half of the match.
Jamaica committed 30 turnovers during the match to New Zealand’s 21 and like the first time they met in the competition, Jamaica committed 58 penalty contacts to New Zealand’s 26.
