- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Diamonds skipper Sharelle McMahon emphatically shrugged off injury to seal Commonwealth Games selection in Sunday’s Jamaican whitewash but it’s uncertain whether she’ll play in her favourite position at Delhi.
With her left thigh heavily strapped, McMahon confirmed her fitness and renowned ability by playing three-quarters of a 71-40 cakewalk over the Sunshine Girls at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
The 106-cap veteran surprisingly started at goal shooter and struck an instant chemistry with Natalie Medhurst in a dominant first half as Australia ensured a 3-0 series clean sweep with a 40-15 halftime lead.
The pair’s slick passing was a feature of the Diamonds play before McMahon moved back to her preferred position of goal attack in the third term and then rested for the final quarter.
“The thigh was right and I didn’t feel it all,” the captain said after her 21-goal haul.
“I was really happy to be out there. I was really nervous after watching the first couple of matches and I thought there was some really nice play.”
Medhurst continued her fine form from the first Test with 24 goals at 100 per cent accuracy, while fellow GA Susan Pratley once again showed her good touch with an eye-catching fourth-term cameo.
Goal shooter Kate Beveridge didn’t help her cause with a 63 per cent success rate in the second half as first-choice Cath Cox was rested.
Coach Norma Plummer, to prune her 15-strong squad to 12 for the Games after next Sunday’s clash with New Zealand, was particularly impressed by Medhurst and her combination with McMahon and admitted she had the toughest of choices on who to leave at home.
With McMahon able to play GS or GA equally well, Plummer said she was yet to decide how to best utilise her 33-year-old leader.
McMahon herself said: “It’s really hard to split it, all the combinations are all really good and it’s going to be so hard to make a call on all three (players to miss out)”.
More should be known after the first trans-Tasman Test in Adelaide when Plummer picks her team to match up against the tall defence of defending gold medalists the Silver Ferns.
“It was a fantastic performance and great for the girls but in the big picture we won’t be getting too carried away when it comes to NZ,” the coach said.
Apart from a fighting third quarter, when they shared the honours 12-all, there were few rays of light for the Sunshine Girls on the Gold Coast as the understrength Jamaicans were outclassed.
Centre Kim Green was a stand-out in vice-captain Natalie van Bertouch’s absence to leave Lauren Nourse and Madison Browne fighting for the final midcourt place.
Young Queensland Firebird Amy Steel is likely to be the defender to miss out.