Australia crush Samoa in world netball opener

 

By Melissa Woods, 5 Jul 2011

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 Diamonds, netball, Netball world championships, Norma Plummer, Samoa

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Coach Norma Plummer gave rivals a taste of her team’s new-found versatility as Australia stormed to an 81-23 win over Samoa to open their world netball championship title defence.

Plummer used her entire 12-player squad in their first pool match at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, including seven competing in their first world titles.

The coach insists that it will be an entire squad contribution should Australia successfully defend their world crown in Sunday’s grand final.

“You’ve only got to look at the defence ends in both halves with Fuhrms (Susan Fuhrmann) and Sharni (Layton) in the second half. They did just as good as Julie (Corletto) and (Laura) Geitz,” Plummer said.

“They did a great job.

“What we’re really about is a team of 12 and I think that’s coming through.”

Erin Bell, 23, is a prime example of versatility now in the Diamonds’ line-up, starting her first Test on the wing before finishing the match at goal attack.

“She got selected in the team because of her versatility to play wing attack and in the goals and I thought she transitioned across in the last quarter very nicely,” Plummer said.

The Diamonds showed against Samoa they will again be a benchmark team with a display which showcased their precision and athleticism.

The defending champions led at every break against the world No.10 side, taking a 38-16 margin at halftime in front of a vocal Australian contingent in the stands.

The Diamonds’ goalers finished the opening half with impressive figures, shooter Catherine Cox on target for 23 goals from 27 attempts, while goal attack Natalie Medhurst claimed 15 from 19.

However towering young Caitlin Bassett, who replaced Cox, eclipsed that when she shot a flawless 31 from 31 in the second half.

Cox, playing in her third world titles, said it was a satisfying performance.

“It was good because we built into it, everyone got on court and I think we ticked off all the things we wanted to in our first game,” she said.

“Ez (Erin Bell) had a great game, and I said to her about five times how good her ball release was.”

Cox said the new combinations were “only a few of what we’ve got”.

“We wanted to go out there and play well for ourselves so we’re not going to go out there and just throw the ball around. We want to make sure we’re building.”

The Diamonds’ second pool game is against Northern Ireland on Tuesday at 7.45pm (AEST).

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