MALAWI V ENGLAND

 Q1: 3-7 

Q2: 7-12 

Q3: PP 17-26 

Q4: 22-33

When Malawi take to the court there is one player that always catches the eye.  Mary Waya has an immense 205 caps for her country, has threatened to retire more times than Sinatra threatened to come back and is probably the only forty-something athlete in the world still making first pick on their country’s start list.

It is not just how she plays but more the effect she has on her team that makes her stand out, as she also manages to suddenly appear where needed whether in defence or in attack. 

England were made to work hard in the first quarter as Malawi have also embraced Fast Net this weekend; they gave New Zealand a big fright leading into the final quarter of their head-to-head with the Silver Ferns who needed their Power Play to finally get ahead and edge the win. As has been the case across the weekend the host nation played the rolling subs rule to their advantage and made it to the break four goals (and four points) ahead.

It was no easier in the second six minute segment though as Malawi's tenacious defence kept them in the game marshalled by the vocal presence of Mary Wayu. In a battle of the wits England pulled a little further ahead 12-7 at half time.

 The crowd at the MEN Arena have been adding their own sparkle to proceedings and boy do they love a Power Play, signalled by a push of The Big Red Button, a 30 foot explosion of roaring flames and a blast of music.  Both teams chose the third quarter to go for double points, which does take away the impact for the crowd as one side cannot pull ahead but still the fans still want those four-pointers to be attempted and scored.  Sure enough as the clock ticked down in to the remaining seconds of the quarter, and after winning a penalty shot outside the circle, Jo Harten gave the arena what it wanted, sinking a shot from outside the circle to give the team a comfortable cushion going into the last six minutes of the match.

The game may have been almost in the bag but Mary Waya insisted the show was not over, impressing everyone with her flexibity and ingenuity by catching a ball in front of her and smoothly passing it through her legs to the shooter waiting behind - the crowd erupted.

England maintain that winning feeling and push on for a place in the final showdown but next up it is Australia.

STARTING 7s: 

MALAWI: GS: Mwai Kumenda GA: Mary Waya WA: Beatrice Mpinganjira C:Peace Kaluwa WD: Sylvia Malenga GD:Caroline Mtukule GK: Linda Magombo

REPS: Grace Mwafulirwa, Emma Mdzagada, Merenia Gedion, Esther Nkhoma, Tina Kamzati

ENGLAND: GS: Rachel Dunn GA: Jo Harten WA: Tamsin Greenway C: Serenia Gurthrie, WD Sara Bayman GK Sonia Mkoloma GD Geva Mentor

REPS: Stacey Francis, Eboni Beckford-Chambers. Pamela Cookey Karen Atkinson Jade Clarke