Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
If anyone was going to disrupt world netball status quo, it was going to be Jamaica.
Equipped with inside Super Netball information, the Sunshine Girls pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Commonwealth Games history by defeating Australia 46-45 in their semi-final.
The Diamonds had clawed back a game-high five-goal deficit to have the ball in their hands with 36 seconds remaining, but squandered their chance to send the game into extra time when Sophie Dwyer missed an after-the-siren shot.
Jamaica captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey was the architect of the world No.1 netball side’s demise, leaning on her Super Netball intel as Adelaide Thunderbirds skipper.
Newly-minted three-time Thunderbirds premiership player Sterling-Humphrey nullified Melbourne Vixens shooter Sophie Garbin in a repeat of last month’s Super Netball grand final.
Her Thunderbirds teammate Latanya Wilson – who was named player of the match in the grand final – was similarly effective in limiting Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin to just 22 goals.
The Jamaican pair’s club teammate Matilda Garrett struggled to keep Romelda Aiken-George at bay, while Thunderbirds midcourter Georgie Horjus remained on the Diamonds bench.
After settling for silver at the 2022 Birmingham Games, world No.4 Jamaica will take on New Zealand in the gold-medal match on Sunday (10pm AEST).
“Well, if anybody had to do it, it would have to be the Jamaicans,” Sterling-Humphrey said.
“We have the inside information on them.
“Thanks to Super Netball for giving their upper hand up, playing them week in, week out.”
After boisterous on-court celebrations, Sterling-Humphrey’s post-match interview was interrupted by jubilant wails from Wilson.
“Oh my god, she’s my right hand, and she’s my left hand as well,” the Jamaican captain laughed.
Having given birth in October last year before making her Super Netball comeback, Sherling-Humphrey was cheered on at the Hydro by her son Xaihire – as well as the raucous Scottish crowd.
“I’m pretty proud of the year I’ve had so far battling postpartum depression,” Sherling-Humphrey said.
This year’s gold medal match will also have an Adelaide Thunderbirds flavour to it, with Sherling-Humphrey to reunite with teammate Kate Heffernan.
Silver Ferns centre Heffernan had backed the Jamaican defensive duo to take it to the Diamonds before the semi-final.
“In that (Super Netball) grand final, the way that they were able to just dismantle that Diamonds end – they’ve got that confidence,” Heffernan said.
New Zealand reach their first gold medal match since the 2014 Glasgow Games, but will have to take on Jamaica one player down.
Highly-rated defender Catherine Hall is on the sidelines after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during their pool victory over Wales.
“It’s a massive loss for us, but I think that’s another thing to play for,” Heffernan said.
“We’re absolutely putting everything out there because we know that Kat would absolutely do anything to be there.
“I’m proud of the way that we’ve been able to adapt with the couple of injuries we had earlier in the pool play.”
