Netball Worlds: Singapore blow chance for upset with 47-57 overtime loss to Fiji

Story by Grace Sim/Red Sports. Photos by Low Hui Yu/Red Sports and Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Singapore Indoor Stadium, Thursday, July 7, 2011 — After a thrilling showdown with neck and neck scoring till the 60th minute mark, Singapore (world number 21) succumbed 47-57 Fiji (world number 5) in overtime.

Singapore thus missed their chance to finish Top-12 at the World Championship, an achievement they last managed back in 1999.

From the starting whistle, the tone of the match was set with both teams wrestling aggressively for the ball. The host nation were feistier than usual and their tallest player, Li Ling, started out as Goal Attack and her teammates easily found the passes to her 188cm frame.

However, Li Ling missed her first two attempts to make her mark, allowing Fiji Goal Attack, Seruwaia Vonolagi, to take over the honours of scoring the first goal of the match.

Subsequently, Singapore Captain and Goal Keeper, Jean Ng, intercepted the ball on Fiji’s possession and brought the ball down to the attacking end. Li Ling was third-time lucky and found the shot to put Singapore on the scoreboard.

Seven minutes into the first quarter, Singapore had their biggest lead of four goals at 8-4. Charmaine Soh, the rookie Singapore Goal Shooter who was earning just her second international cap, obliged her team with an 86% shooting accuracy in the first quarter.

The more experienced Fijians however were quick to close the gap with Captain Matila Waqanidrola marshalling the defence for Fiji to draw level at 12-12 by the first break.

The second quarter saw both teams struggle to maintain possession. Fiji grabbed the upper hand, with their shooters making 12 out of 15 attempts compared to the 10 out of 15 for Singapore.

Li Ling had possession of the ball in the goal circle to make a 16th attempt, but time ran out before the shot was taken to see Singapore trail 22-24 at half time.

As the third quarter went underway, veteran shooter Tan Hui Yan came in to pair with Charmaine Soh. She boosted the Singapore team with her perfect shooting record in the third quarter as she converted all nine of her attempts.

The pair proved to have astounding chemistry in the attacking circle, drawing many penalties from their bigger opponents. With their effort, they managed to put up a total of 13 goals for the quarter. Fiji were caught on the back foot but still managed to score an equaliser to level the score at 35-35 just before the whistle sounded for the break.

Singapore started in style in the final quarter with Tan Huiyan (Singapore GS) potting the first shot for the team to lead 36-35. The Fijian shooters were also struggling with their shots as they came under pressure from Singapore’s defence pair of Goal Defence Lin Qingyi and Goal Keeper Jean Ng.

The hosts capitalised on the Fijian turnovers and set into a steady motion, forcing Fiji to find ways to equalise. As the clock ticked into the final three minutes of the last quarter, the jitters started to show as unforced errors and changes of possession littered the game.

With the last minute of play, Singapore led Fiji by one goal at 43-42. With the Singapore team in possession of the ball, the girls chose a safe passing option in their defensive half of the court before sending the ball to the attacking end.

Unfortunately their miscalculated judgement of time sent the ball into the shooting circle too early. Charmaine Soh, rattled by nerves from the defining moment, failed to sink the shot which would have have sealed the nation’s victory.

Fiji’s Goal Defence and player of the match, Matila Waqanidrola, sent the rebounded ball down court to connect with shooter Afa Rusivakula. Rusivakula managed a goal at the last possible second, sending the match into overtime.

It went downhill for the Republic during overtime play with the Singapore team still looking visibly affected by the missed opportunity for a major upset.

The Fiji team was spurred on by the equalising shot and took only eight seconds to score their first centre pass in overtime.

Singapore’s shooting pair, Tan Huiyan and Charmaine Soh, could not keep up with the form they previously had. Fiji on the other hand had momentum with the turnovers and score another three consecutive goals.

With overtime play split into two seven-minute halves, Singapore struggled and only scored their first overtime goal after five minutes. Fiji led 50-45 by the time the teams changed ends.

After the changeover, the pressure to deliver proved too much as Singapore’s usually composed Goal Shooter, Tan Huiyan, sent an airball sailing over the post to leave many supporters shell shocked.

Fiji capitalised on the rebound to score off their opponent’s centre-pass, making the first shot from the changeover.

Despite lineup changes which saw Captain Jean Ng moving out to Wing Defence after being treated for injury, Singapore failed to settle into the game and only managed only two out of five attempted goals within the second half of overtime play.

On the other hand, Fiji’s shooting pair, Maria Lutua and Afa Rusivakula, totalled a 70% shooting accuracy in the same half and steered their team into a 57-47 victory at the final whistle.

Clearly disappointed with the results, Singapore captain Jean Ng stated: “I really thought we had it (the game) at full time. (We) stopped driving into the ball and stopped letting the ball go, so we lost quite a bit flow there (during overtime).”

Singapore coach Kate Carpenter explained: “Often when you go into overtime, if it’s still not goal for goal within the first half, it tends to blow out of it and that’s reflected. We were so close yet so far.”

But all is not lost. Added Carpenter: “The team was fantastic. They did everything we asked and stuck to the game plan. (Knowing) it was going to be a tough task, that is the closest we’ve got to Fiji having played them a number of times now.”

On a positive note, Jean Ng added that the team to have improved in consistency and performance from previous matches and it will fuel them for the next match.

The Singapore team will play Sri Lanka at 11am in the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, July 8th. The winner will get another game in the 13th/14th playoff.

For more photos, go to the next page.