Jhaniele Fowler scored 57 goals as Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls defeated England’s Roses 63-53 for a consolation victory in the England Roses Vitality Series that concluded on Sunday.
England coming off their dominating 66-47 victory over Jamaica on Saturday, seemed to play with lesser intensity as Jess Thirlby experimented with her line up starting Laura Malcolm at centre and later bringing Georgina Fisher into the attack.
Notwithstanding those changes, Jamaica played much better than in their two previous matches, successfully getting their passes into Fowler, who only missed three shots in the game. Shanice Beckford scored five of her eight attempts at goal.
For England, Fisher scored 21 of 24, Helen Housby 15 of 17 and Eleanor Cardwell 14 of 16 and were the primary scorers in the loss.
Jamaica led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter and extended the lead to 32-24 at half-time thanks in large part to the defensive work of Shamera Sterling, who was outstanding in disrupting England’s attack and was named MVP.
It was through her work alongside Kadie-Ann Dehaney that saw Jamaica extend their lead in the second quarter. England, however, would rally in the third quarter when they tied the Sunshine Girls’ 16-16 to keep the lead at eight going into the final quarter.
However, the visitors, desperate to take something away from the series, managed to regain their composure and held on for the confidence-boosting victory.
Jamaica started with Fowler, Shanice Beckford, Khadijah Williams, Adean Thomas, Latanya Wilson, Shamera Sterling and Kadie-Ann Dehaney. Thomas suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury early in the game and was helped off the court but later returned to help her team to the win.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Tiffany Langley eager to make the most of Fast5 opportunity on Sunshine Girls debut
Tiffany Langley’s netball journey has been marked by years of dedication, disappointment, and unwavering perseverance.
So, as she prepares to represent Jamaica for the first time as part of the Sunshine Girls squad to the Fast5 Netball World Series in New Zealand, Langley views her inclusion as a hard-earned opportunity for redemption and a stepping stone toward becoming a staple in the senior setup.
Langley’s selection for the November 9-10 tournament comes as a welcome reward after years of near misses at the youth level. She has been on the fringes of the national programme since her early teens, as she trained diligently with both the Under-16 and Under-21 teams.
Yet, despite her efforts, she narrowly missed out on making the final cut for international tournaments—experiences that could have easily derailed a young athlete’s confidence. But for Langley, those setbacks only fueled her desire to push harder and prove herself worthy.
“This opportunity means everything to me. It’s something I’ve been working towards for years, and I guess I can say my hard work has now paid off because being a part of a national team to represent my country is a dream come true,” Langley shared.
“Missing out on the Under-16 and Under-21 squads at that point was tough, but I never gave up. So for this opportunity to come at this point in my career, it gives me the confidence that I was lacking before to keep pushing forward, and now I’m excited to see what the future holds for me,” she told SportsMax.Tv.
For Langley, her selection to the Sunshine Girls’ Fast5 squad—a variation of netball known for its fast-paced style and tactical intensity—marks a turning point in her career.
Though Fast5 is different from the traditional 7-a-side format, the 24-year-old believes the condensed format suits her skill set and will allow her to showcase her versatility on the court.
“It’s a different game in many ways, but it’s also an opportunity to test yourself under pressure. I’ve been working hard on my speed, agility, and decision-making, and I’m mentally and physically ready to give it my all,” Langley shared.
“Mentally, I reassured myself that I’m good enough to be a part of this team and capable enough to get the job done. Physically, I am working extremely hard to better my skills in training to ensure that I deliver when I am called upon,” she added.
Langley, who started her netball journey at Gaynstead High School before transitioning to GC Foster College, believes her story is one of perseverance and resilience, as she is of the view that many athletes, when faced with repeated setbacks, might have opted to hang up their boots. However, the bubbly player’s love for the sport and her dream of representing Jamaica at the highest level kept her motivated.
Now with the opportunity there for the taking, Langley’s goal is to make a strong impression during the Fast5 tournament to show selectors that she can be a valuable asset for the team in both short and long formats of the game.
If she can deliver on her promise, she hopes this will be the first of many senior appearances.
“I’m not just happy to be here; I’m determined to make an impact. This isn’t just about making my debut; it’s about establishing myself as a player for the future. I want to be a part of the senior team for years to come, so this is just the beginning. I want to use this chance to learn, grow, and cement my place in the squad,” Langley asserted.
While they might find the going tough in New Zealand, Langley, a wing-attack, who is set to play centre at the tournament, is confident that the Dalton Hinds and Nardia Hanson-coached team has enough talent to cause some problems.
“I rate our chances highly. I love the work everyone is putting in at training; I love the camaraderie among us, and I’m so excited to see what this competition has to offer, as I am sure we all want to keep improving to be consistent in making more Sunshine Girls teams,” Langley ended.
Jamaica's men's netball team, "The Suns," shine bright at America's Netball Championships
Jamaica's men’s netball team, "The Suns," have successfully defended their title at the America's Netball Championships, leaving Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis, as the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Their dominant performance across seven matches reaffirmed their status as the reigning champions, having first claimed the title in 2022.
The Suns opened the tournament with a thrilling 30-27 victory over England in what was their closest match of the competition. From there, they never looked back. They followed that up with a commanding 56-27 win over Grenada before a resounding 76-20 thrashing of the host nation, St. Kitts & Nevis. However, their most emphatic victory came against the United States, where they posted a staggering 109-10 scoreline. Antigua & Barbuda fell 83-14, and despite a more competitive match against Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica pulled through with a 62-49 win. They capped off the tournament with a decisive 75-28 win over St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
As the dust settled, "The Suns" stood tall as the only unbeaten team in the second edition of the tournament, proving once again that they are the team to beat in men’s netball. Their commanding performances reflect the resilience and unity that defines Jamaican sports across all disciplines.
Richard Hendricks, one of the standout players for Jamaica, was named the Tournament MVP, a testament to his brilliant performances throughout the competition. His leadership on the court was pivotal in guiding the team to victory.
Trinidad and Tobago U16 and U18 netball teams arrive in Jamaica for Inaugural Island Vibes tournament
The Trinidad and Tobago U16 and U18 netball teams have arrived in Jamaica for the inaugural Island Vibes Tournament, set to take place from September 20-22. This new event will see Jamaica's National U16 team face off against Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team in a two-match series, while the Trinidad and Tobago U18 team will compete against Denbigh High School, the winners of the recent Youth Summer Invitational and the first holders of the Marva Bernard Trophy.
Jamaica’s U16 squad, composed of talented schoolgirl representatives from both urban and rural schools, has been preparing for this series over the past six months under the leadership of co-coaches Nardia Hanson and Kerry-Ann Brown. The team, which was the runner-up to Denbigh High's U18 team in the recent Youth Summer Invitational, comprises a well-rounded mix of defenders, center court players, and shooters. The squad includes defenders Henicka Henry, Kyara Johnson, Denesia Laing, Ashley Kentish, and Sashane Smith. The center court is represented by Shamwua Hall, Jody-Ann Flemmings, Brianya Allen, Natasha Pringle, Reniecia Jones, and Jada Campbell, while the shooting duties will be handled by Kaelyn-Keandra Smith, Kheresha Peccoo, Syranna Brown, and Kalee Martin.
Vice President of Netball Jamaica, Simone Forbes, expressed excitement about the opportunity for the Jamaican girls to play in an international series. "The Coaches and the girls are excited about this opportunity to play an International Series," said Forbes. "Our sponsors Carimed, Wisynco, NHT, Budget Car Rentals, and INSPORT have pledged their support, and so this will be an interesting series which we anticipate will help us to promote Youth Development in the Region. We are very happy that the teams from Trinidad and Tobago were able to come to compete. We encourage all school coaches and members of school teams as well as the public to come out and support all our girls."
Trinidad and Tobago's President, Sherry-Ann Blackburn, also expressed her enthusiasm for the competition. "We are all excited and gearing up for intense competition in Jamaica this weekend. Our national Under 16 and Under 18 teams have gone through rigorous training supervised by our dedicated technical staff. We are happy to be a part of this new and innovative series and hope it will help to make a real difference as the Region continues to put structures in place to build high-performance teams."
The Island Vibes Tournament promises an exciting lineup of matches at the Leila Robinson Courts, Independence Park Limited. The action kicks off on Friday, September 20, with Denbigh High taking on Trinidad and Tobago's U18 team at 6:00 PM. Following that, Jamaica's U16 team will clash with Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team at 7:15 PM. The series concludes on Sunday, September 22, starting at 4:30 PM when Denbigh High faces the Trinidad and Tobago U18s once again. The final match, scheduled for 5:45 PM, will feature the Jamaica U16s against the Trinidad and Tobago U16s. The tournament will culminate with a closing ceremony and medal presentation at 7:00 PM.
The event is also supported by several sponsors, including Confidence, Kendel, Wata, Powerade, NHT, Budget, Stewart’s Automotive, ILE, and JACE Management. It is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, further showcasing the region's commitment to youth development in sports. Arleene Findlay serves as the Competition Manager for the tournament.
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