After battling for third and fourth place in major netball championships world wide, for many years now, the Jamaican Sunshine Girls are finally poised to move to the up. They recently returned from England where they claimed the silver medal in the Fast Net version of the game at the World Fast Net Series in Manchester. This was the first time the Sunshine Girls placed second at an international event at the senior level. New Zealand claimed the gold and world champions, Australia the bronze.

Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica in that order have dominated the four top spots in netball for some time now. This week however the Jamaican Sunshine Girls proved that they are a force to recon with and want more. They drew their two-test series with both Australia and New Zealand at the National Commercial Bank Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

The Jamaica's Sunshine Girls lost the first match 53-51 in their two-test series against the Australians, however they won the secon match by 56 -55. This was their first win over the Australians since 1998. They also had a similar faith over the New Zealand’s Silver Ferns losing the first test between the two nations 61-56 then winning the second test 53-50. This was only Jamaica’s second win over New Zealand in 44 attempts.

Personally I have a healthy respect for our Sunshine Girls. While the Australia and the New Zealand team can eat, sleep and play netball as a profession, our girls must work to earn a living and find time for netball. That takes a lot of dedication and commitment. With all of that our girls have maintained a very high standard to their game. I’m not sure what the New Zealand captain Casey Williams meant when she said "They are unorthodox, athletic and agile," but I’m sure it’s all good.

The next major netball competition will be the Commonwealth games in Delhi in 2010.
Australia, New Zealand and England watch out, the Jamaican Sunshine Girls are coming for gold. Good luck girls.

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