Asian Netball C’ships: Singapore ease to 63–28 win over Hong Kong to virtually seal semi-final spot

Story by Colin Tung/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

Hong Kong’s 1.81m tall Jessica McCauley (GK)’s attempts to stop Charmaine Soh (GS) were in vain as the latter was in scintillating shooting form for Singapore, converting 46 of her 56 (82 percent conversion rate) goal attempts (all tournament-high figures for her). (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

OCBC Arena, Wednesday, September 10, 2014 — Led by inspired shooting from Charmaine Soh (GS), Singapore eased to a 63–28 win over Hong Kong, their main rivals in Group A of the Asian Netball Championships.

The previously unbeaten Hong Kong had entered the match against the hosts with three consecutive wins against India, Japan, and Vietnam. The Hong Kongers started what was their final group match, against the only other world-ranked team in the same group (Singapore is ranked 18th, Hong Kong 25th), looking up for the fight and to top the group, notching the first goal to go ahead.

Singapore, quick in movement and passing, was also swift in delivering a response. They equalised, before Charmaine gave the team a 2–1 lead and, thereupon, ensured their lead was never relinquished.

When Hong Kong threatened to pull level at 8–7 down, Charmaine sunk five consecutive goals to give Singapore some breathing space. Those five goals contributed to the 13 attempts she had in the first quarter, all of which she nailed for a 100 percent conversion rate.

Making an eventual 56 goal attempts (her previous high was 37 in the opening game against Japan) in the match, Charmaine would be rewarded with 46 goals (82 percent conversion rate) for her biggest haul of the tournament so far.

“I was quite nervous … Actually, I watched a match of the ANZ (Championship, the premier netball league in Australia and New Zealand). That’s not what I normally do, but I decided to watch a game of [sic] more experienced players and to calm my nerves and it did,” said Charmaine. “I was thinking I must put in the first shot to bring up the team’s morale.”

With victory against Hong Kong, Singapore’s passage into the semi-finals as group winners is virtually sealed, barring a disastrous result tomorrow in the final group game against third-placed India, who have beaten Japan and Vietnam but lost to Hong Kong 84–17 on the opening day of competition.

However, Singapore coach, Ruth Aitken, said that there was no room for complacency. “It is always a challenge as a coach to ensure that when the victories are big, we continue working on the process. I really think that the players themselves are very conscious of the fact that they need to continue working and improving. So I just keep fueling that fire but, in the end, they need to motivate themselves to do it and they’re right on target.”

Unlike previous games against Japan and Vietnam, Ruth refrained from making her first change to the starting seven players until the fourth quarter when a shuffle saw Chen Lili (GK) make way for Anna Soo (WD). Captain Lin Qingyi, shifted from Goal Defence to take up the fort as Goal Keeper with Premila Hirubalan, originally playing in Wing Defence, moving into Goal Defence. Later, Premila would also make way for Nur Aqilah Afiqah (GK) as Qingyi shifted back into Goal Defence.

Ruth said, “For this particular team (Hong Kong), it was the line-up that worked really well for us. I also wanted to make sure that we just settled into that third quarter, or put the foot down, I suppose, in that third quarter to make sure that the game was well and truly in the bag because sometimes, if you make a lot of changes at one time, the other team can come back and I didn’t want that. I felt that the team that played in the first half deserved to continue.”

Hong Kong tried to keep pace with Singapore in the first half, entering the interval 11 goals down. But a third quarter that saw Singapore outscore Hong Kong by 16 goals quelled the latter’s challenge.

Premila, earning her 88th cap and the most experienced player in the squad, said, “We knew they would come out fighting, but we also knew that we have what it takes to pull through. We are a fantastic attacking side so we decided to play it smart. So what we did was, after awhile, we decided to stop playing long passes. Once we realised they were coming after us, everyone on court started shouting, ‘Short, short, short!’

“We started playing very short, conservative netball, then we pull[ed] the score away … [and] could play our normal game again. So, in that sense, all seven of us (on court), and all five on the bench, and the coaches, we realise what needs to be done in that split second so that’s why I think the team played really well.”

Adding that the Hong Kong team had travelled to Singapore for practice games with the national team two months ago, Premila said that they had been wary of Hong Kong’s threat. “It was very close competition so we got a bit scared. We always knew it was going to be a fantastic game. These are the games you live for: both sides going really hard against each other, both sides really want[ing] to win. It was a great game. I enjoyed myself a lot.”

If Singapore secure qualification for the semi-finals in the last group game against India, they will face in the semi-finals on Saturday either Sri Lanka or Malaysia, who play each other in a top-of-the-table Group B clash tomorrow at 5pm.

Scores by Quarter
Singapore vs Hong Kong
1st Quarter: 15–8
2nd Quarter: 13–9 (28–17)
3rd Quarter: 20–4 (48–21)
4th Quarter: 15–7 (63–28)

Singapore Roster
Ang Shi Qi, Anna Soo, Charmaine Soh (GS), Chen Huifen (GA, co vice-captain), Chen Lili (GK), Kimberly Lim (WA), Lin Qingyi (GD, captain), Melissa Teo, Natalie Long, Nur Aqilah Afiqah, Nurul Baizura (C, co vice-captain), Premila Hirubalan (WD)

Hong Kong Roster
Chan Ka Yan Angela (GA), Tiffany Chiu, Vanessa Cuvelier (WD), Krystle Edwards (GS), Emma Gregory, Theerawan Hanronnachai Rita, Lo Fung Yee Ann, Jessica McCauley (GK, co-captain), Elanor Stanley (GD), Tai Ka Yan Mandy, Rachael Wilcock (WA, co-captain), Yuen Ka Hei Grace (C)

League Tables (updated as at Friday, September 12)

Related Stories
Singapore beat Japan 67–13 in opener
Singapore beat Vietnam 84–8 for second straight win
Singapore’s 73–20 win over India sets up semi-final clash with Malaysia
Defending champions Singapore through to final with 46–39 win over Malaysia
Singapore retain title with 59–41 final win against Sri Lanka

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