Sunshine Girls clinch Rhone Hornsby trophy with gritty 61-53 win over England
Jamaica's Sunshine Girls reserved their finest performance for the final showdown, as they outlasted England 61-53 in a thrilling decider of the Horizon Netball Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Tuesday.
The victory not only secured the series 2-1 but also earned the Sunshine Girls the coveted Rhone Hornsby Trophy, marking another milestone in their storied legacy.
Romelda Aiken-George led from the front with 40 goals from 43 attempts, while goal-attack Shanice Beckford scored 21 from 25 attempts.
Meanwhile, Olivia Tchine scored 42 goas from 47 attempts for England, with Lois Pearson assist with 11 from 13 attempts.
It wasn’t the ideal start for the Jamaicans, who quickly found themselves on the back foot after securing the opening centre pass. An uncharacteristic miss by shooter Romelda Aiken-George handed England an early advantage and a turnover soon after saw the English side open up a 4-1 lead, forcing the Sunshine Girls into a chase from the outset.
Despite the early struggles, the match quickly developed into an intense battle of wills, with both teams exchanging blows in end-to-end action. England’s fast-paced play and clinical shooting allowed them to maintain a three-goal lead throughout the first quarter, finishing the period 14-11 ahead.
However, the Sunshine Girls showed their resilience midway through the second quarter. A series of turnovers, prompted by the relentless defensive pressure from Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Latanya Wilson, and Jodi-Ann Ward, allowed the Jamaicans to not only close the gap but surge ahead.
By halftime, they had reversed the deficit, and opened up a two-goal lead at 28-26, and were in control of the game for the first time.
The third quarter saw Jamaica come out with renewed energy, extending their lead to four goals. But just as quickly, unforced errors crept into their game, allowing England to narrow the margin.
Still, the Sunshine Girls refused to be rattled. Their defensive unit, particularly Sterling-Humphrey, stepped up when it mattered most, forcing more turnovers and denying England any momentum. With just moments left in the quarter, England’s Olivia Tchine scored a buzzer-beater, cutting the gap to three, to make the score 42-39, heading into the final 15 minutes.
With a three-goal lead under their belts, the Jamaicans only needed to maitain their composure in the final quarter, and they did just that with a touch of class.
They again came out strong and scored off their centre pass before immediately forcing another turnover from England. This flurry of activity allowed Jamaica to race to a six-goal lead at 46-40 with just over 12 minutes left.
From there, the Jamaicans never looked back. Sterling-Humphrey’s precise defensive work gained yet another turnover, which the Sunshine Girls capitalized on to stretch their lead to eight goals. By the time the final whistle blew, Jamaica had secured a comfortable 61-53 win to send the massive home crowd into frenzy.