Sunshine Girls drop five-goal contest to New Zealand in Glasgow

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls were beaten 48-53 by New Zealand in their second Pool B preliminary match of the Commonwealth Games netball tournament at Hyra Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, and will look to recover when they meet Uganda on Monday.

The five-goal defeat came a day after Jamaica’s 81-22 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their opener. New Zealand also settled a score from four years earlier, when Jamaica eliminated them in the semi-finals.

Grace Nweke led New Zealand with 47 goals from 56 attempts. The Silver Ferns were ahead 14-12 after the first quarter, 26-25 at half-time, and 39-35 entering the fourth period.

Romelda Aiken converted 34 of 38 shots for Jamaica, while Shanice Beckford added 14 goals from 15 attempts.

Uganda sit above Jamaica in the Pool B standings after two wins: 59-50 against Wales and 80-36 against Trinidad and Tobago.