Sunshine Girls Rout Trinidad and Tobago 81-22 in Commonwealth Games Netball Opener

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica's Sunshine Girls began their Commonwealth Games netball campaign in emphatic fashion on Saturday, overpowering Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago 81-22 in their opening Pool B fixture at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. The winning margin was 59 goals.

The third-ranked Jamaicans turned the contest into a defensive exhibition, confining Trinidad and Tobago to single figures in each of the four quarters. The 22 goals conceded stand as a Commonwealth Games low.

Jamaica seized control immediately, taking the opening quarter 24-5 and stretching the advantage to 21 goals, 43-12, by the interval. They were 60-20 clear at the end of the third before emptying the bench, and the reserves still claimed the final quarter 17-8.

UK-based Azara Wilmot, introduced during the second quarter, top-scored with 33 goals from 41 attempts on her senior debut for the Sunshine Girls.

Veteran shooter Romelda Aikens contributed 25 goals from 27 attempts, while Shanice Beckford was flawless with 16 from 16. Rhea Dixon converted seven of her 11 tries at goal.

For Trinidad and Tobago, Afeisha Noel accounted for 17 goals from 19 attempts, and Joelisa Cooper added the remaining five from seven attempts.

Jamaica return to court against New Zealand on Sunday and then meet Uganda on Monday.