Home | Front Page MyEXPRESS Have Your Say News / Showbiz Scottish Sport - Latest Sport - Football - My Club - Match Centre - Cricket - Rugby Union - Rugby League - Golf - Tennis - Motorsport - Racing - Netball - Speedway - Other Sport

Pictures

Video

Features Horoscope Our Comment The Crusader Entertainment TV Guide Money Motoring Travel Careers Fun / Competitions Promotions Cartoon Blogs Forgotten Verse Have a Story? Contact Us Polls Retirement Property Our Paper

Dating Vouchers Express Mortgages Express Loans Bingo Lose Weight Franchising Mobile Recycle Shopping Book Shop Compare Broadband Wine Shop Legal Store FlatShare Cruises

NETBALL

ENGLAND BEAT AUSTRALIA IN HISTORIC CLASH

HISTORIC WIN: England stormed to a 25-19 win at the MEN Arena in Manchester /SWPix

Saturday October 10,2009

By Emily Garnham in Manchester

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(0)

ENGLAND have beaten Australia for the first time in 28 years, in a crunch match at the World Netball Series.

The two sides had been level-pegging on the series scoreboard with eight points apiece, with second seed New Zealand trailing in third place.

But England proved their Fast Net prowess with a controlled, slick attack and tight defence from the combined power of Geva Mentor and co-captain Sonia Mkoloma.

The home side were away to a good start after sinking the first two goals, thanks to solid mid-court support from Tamsin Greenway at WA.

EXPRESS PHOTO GALLERY: SEE THE WORLD NETBALL SERIES IN PICTURES!

But Australia's slack mid-court defence left Serena Guthrie and Greenway wide open in the second quarter and Jo Harten was on song in the English goal circle.

The world number ones left the mid-court wide open for England

Power play for both sides in the third quarter made for thrilling viewing by the screaming crowd - warmed up by furious clash between Jamaica and Malawi only moments before.

England's narrow first half lead, gave the home side the edge and the Australian defence was hard to penetrate.

But Harten's converted penalty, worth four points, put England ahead 20 - 11. A second successful long shot at goal in the final few minutes sealed the deal.

It marks England's first victory over Australia since June, 1981 when they beat the Diamonds 41-34 in Sydney.

Coach Sue Hawkins told Express.co.uk: "I was really impressed by Geva and Sonia. Their experience and athleticism really outshone the others,

"I surprised Australia didn't bring Catherine Cox on but they obviously put on their best performance.

"Down the other end Jo Harten was great in attack. We've got a great mixture of youth and experience but now its about focus and doing it again.

"We're a third of the way there and we've still got two finals to play."

Hawkins, who is Australian, said she feels no disappointment for her home country's loss.

"I'm here as English coach and they have my full support. I'm here I'm doing a job. I'm fully English at this stage. I'm even starting to talk with an English accent!"

SCORES

Australia/England

Q14/5

Q2 7/10

Q3 17/22 (power play Australia and England)

Q4 19/25

STARTING LINE UPS

Australia

Kate Beveridge (GS), Susan Pratley (GA), Kim Green (WA), Natalie von Bertouch (C), Renae Hallinan (WD), Rebecca Bulley (GD), Susan Fuhrmann (GK)

England

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

The historic victory comes hours after an earlier victory over Malawi, in which the home side stormed to a 33-22 victory.

Shooters Mary Waya (GA) and Mwayi Kumwenda (GS) had their work cut out to drive round a lofty English defence of Mentor and Mkoloma.

And down the other end, Rachel Dunn protected her rebound zone under the net with exceptional spatial awareness in spite of the physical presence of Linda Magombo.

But Harten once again shone as the star shooter, calmly netting long shots to the delight of a packed international crowd.

Both sides selected power play in the third quarter, but with England in devastating attack mode, Malawi only clocked up ten points.

Mary Waya, 41, told Express.co.uk: "We are not disappointed with the result. We tried our best and that's all we can do."

SCORES

Malawi/England

Q1 3/7

Q2 7/12

Q3 17/26 (power play Malawi and England)

Q4 22/33

STARTING LINE UPS

Malawi

Mwayi Kumwenda (GS), Mary Waya (GA), Beatrice Mpinganjira (WA), Peace Kaluwa (C), Slyvia Malenga (WD), Caroline Mtukule (GD), Linda Magombo (GK)