Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Jamaica's goal shooter Romelda Aiken (centre) is challenged by Geva Mentor (left) while her teammate, Sonia Mkoloma looks on during the third netball Test at the National Indoor Centre on Thursday night. England won 49-45 to sweep the series 3-0.

Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

WITH LESS than six weeks to go before the start of the World Netball Championships (WNC) in Auckland, New Zealand, coach of Jamaica's Sunshine Girls, Connie Francis, said the team will have to improve on its passing skills and fitness level if it is to challenge for the title.

"I am pretty confident that we will be capable of getting our fitness and our chemistry together to put on a good show," Francis said.

The coach made her comments following her team's 3-0 home series defeat to world number four-ranked England at the National Indoor Sports Centre. The Jamaicans suffered one of their worst margins of defeat, 52-32, in the opening game against England. Then they were then beaten 46-45 in the second game and 49-45 in the final match.

Physically weak

"I thought that at times we were physically weak and one or two players were mentally weak," said Francis. "I think one of our other weaknesses is that we weren't releasing the ball as quickly as we would have liked and we were also not able to feed the ball into the shooters whenever the opportunity was there," she said.

Francis also noted that the defensive unit was weak at times when it needed to be tight and the team needed to recognise who was the shooter and who were the playmakers in the side.

"We will have to go back and do our video analysis. We will have to go back and work on our fitness and our strength and our conditioning and also our chemistry on the court," said Francis.

However, on the positive side, the former national player said the team was excited about playing in such an intense series.

"It was an opportunity that we really loved and we enjoyed it because it was good to get an opportunity to showcase our girls to our crowd to let them see where we are in our preparations for the World Championships," said Francis.

Chance

"I am also glad that our girls got the chance to play together in a competitive series. Sharon Wiles wasn't here for the first game and we brought her in for the last two Tests and it worked for us," she said. Meanwhile, England's coach, Margaret Caldow, believes the Jamaicans are certainly in the mix for the world title.

"There is not much between us (and Jamaica) and I also think this World Championship, for the first time, is very open," Caldow said after Thursday night's win.

'I think that any one of the top four teams can easily win on the day," she said.

Caldow was also pleased with her team's performance.

"They (Jamaica) are a top side down here so to beat them 3-0 is magnificent. I am really pleased. I could not have asked for more from my players from this Test series."