SAMOA V ENGLAND

Rachel Dunn it!

England shooter Rachel Dunn made netball history at the Co-operative World Netball Series in Manchester by becoming the first player to ever score four points with just one shot.

It is the first time that Fast Net has been giving an outing, it is to netball what Twenty20 is to cricket, 7s to rugby and five-a-side to football, but it is much much quicker.  Dunn was able to put her name in the history books by landing a goal from outside the traditional shooting area during a Power Play quarter.  In this version of the game a shot from outside the circle that successfully goes through the hoop is worth two points while in a Power Play any goal is worth double points.

As a new-born sport it will develop over the weekend and it is clear tactics will play a big part in the scoring, when two evenly match sides line-up against each other.  Samoa, made a brave decision to go-head with their participation so-close to the recent tsunamis that devastated the region, they were warmly welcomed into the MEN arena that was buzzing with anticipation and excitement from the young crowd.

So how did the first match shape up? Despite a few nerves Samoa did not let England run away with the first quarter (just six minutes instead of the usual 15) 7-3 at the first break if you thought the Co-operative Netball Superleague was nifty then this will make you rethink, Fast Net is well named and it is hard to know where to look and yet it is best not to take your eye off the ball as the game could well run away. 

The second quarter showed how slick rolling substitutions can be they were so smooth it was tricky to keep track, what fun for the staticians marking down the figures.  It really is a Fast game of netball the rolling subs are on and off, spectators are eyeing the bench for a change of player, monitoring the defence and the attack, for quickly taken re-startsand above all they are looking out for a prized four-point goal signalled by an overexcited umpire waggling both hands! 

The first one to ever be scored in international competition came in the third quarter, the one nominated by England head coach Sue Hawkins as the Power-Play - every shot is worth double points and if like Rachel Dunn you can land it from outside the usual shooting zone the one goal will equal 4 points.  The hosts used “double-bubble”  to full advantage doubling up their advantage and were 30-8 ahead with one quarter left.

The final quarter meant a Power-Play for Samoa’s and it proved less effective although Shirin Chang became the first player in her country to net 4 points with one shot, they could only net three goals to England’s six so the final score was  36-16.

An exciting format this version already seems to be a winner.

Q1: 3-7 
Q2: 6-14
Q3: 8-30
Q4: 16-36

UMPIRES: Anne Abraitis Sharon Kelly

STARTING 7:

SAMOA: GS: Malu Faadalolu GA: Shirin Chang  WA: Frances Solia C: Brooke Williams WD: Italia Tipely GD: Geraldin Solia GK Lesley Simone

REPS: Monica Faimaono, Lee Edwards, Iola Vaaai, Sase Tauae, Samantha Lewis 

ENGLAND: GS: Jo Harten GA:Pamela Cookey WA: Karen Atkinson C Jade Clarke WD Sara Bayman GD Sonia Mkoloma GK Geva Mentor

REPS: Rachel Dunn, Tamsin Greenway, Serenia Gurthrie, Stacey Francis, Eboni Beckford-Chambers.