NETBALL
Netball World Championships 2007
Sunday, 11 November 07 at Trusts Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Story by Jane Sng, Netball Singapore.
Li Ling went off in late in the first quarter with a knee injury. © Red Sports file picture
Asian champions Singapore went down 32-61 against South Pacific Games champions Fiji in front of a lively crowd today in their opening game of the World Championships.
Singapore held their own against their much taller and more robust opposition, going goal for goal for the first five minutes. Co-Captain and wing attack Pearline Chan was the first of several Singapore players who found the game a bruising one, coming off second-best after an encounter with Waqanidrola, Fiji's Wing Defence.
She recovered and played on, but a more serious blow for Singapore came late in the first quarter when their tall, mobile shooter Li Ling went off with a knee injury. Jeanine Heng replaced her as Goal Shooter. She came back on court in the third quarter with her knee heavily strapped, but was clearly not happy and returned to the bench. Li Ling had been giving Fiji's goal keeper and captain Mere Rabuka plenty to do, and although Singapore's goal attack Chen Huifen remained steady and took her opportunities, she got few easy shots against Rabuka and goal defence Marjorie Parr. Tan Huiyan came on to replace Li Ling and the sisters played their first match together.
Fiji extended their 14-9 first quarter lead to 34-15 by half-time and made several changes including the introduction of player-coach Vilimaina Davu to the goal keep position. The final score is 61 - 32.
In the other Pool C match, Jamaica beat Cook Islands 71 - 29.
Singapore will be playing Cook Islands in their second match tomorrow at 12.10pm (Singapore time: 7.10am) and will look to improve their game.
Jeanine Heng came on to replace the injured Li Ling. © Red Sports file picture
Editor’s note: If you have messages of encouragement, please leave them in the comments section and I’ll make sure they know about it and come in to read them.
Singapore Starting Team
GS - Li Ling
GA - Chen Huifen
WA - Pearline Chan
C - Charlene Porima
WD - Vanessa Lee
GD - Premlia Hirubalan
GK - Jean Ng
Scores
1st Quarter: Fiji 14 Singapore 9
2nd Quarter: 34 - 15
3rd Quarter: 47 - 24
4th Quarter: 61 - 32
Other Results
Pool A
Wales 54 Botswana 35
Pool B
Trinidad and Tobago 47 Scotland 39
Australia 82 Samoa 26
Pool D
South Africa 67 Malaysia 28
England 87 Barbados 34
go singapore! 🙂 prem, u rock! :)u guys have what it takes to play a fantastic game. so, hang in there and do yourselves proud! 🙂
GO S’PORE! YOUR CAN DO IT ! JIAYOUS!
GO Singapore! 😀 you can do it!Jiayou pearline and huifen! (:
Keep going, Singapore! We know you can do it!