England coach surprised to beat Queens

Malawi Queens started their 2014 Commonwealth Games warm-up on a 53-51 losing note to a makeshift England side whose coach Olivia Murphy was surprised by the win at the GL1 in Gloucester arena.

While the Scotland-bound Queens paraded their best players, England included a mixture of future starlets and players who missed out on selection for the Commonwealth Games, reported Gloucester Citizen newspaper.

“It is a great feeling to be back playing and anything at this level is amazing. If I am honest, we did not expect to beat the fifth best in the world, especially as our players had never played together before,” Murphy is quoted as saying on www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk.

“Malawi are a very athletic team and they change direction very well and are very fast. It has been a great experience for us and it is good to see so many girls like myself coming through the ranks.”

The newspaper reported that Queens fell desperately short against the makeshift side that brought back Cheltenham-born and former Hucclecote goal defender Sam Cook.

Despite the loss, Malawi began the stronger team showing prowess in the air as goal shooter Mwawi Kumwenda steadied herself on multiple occasions to find the net.

The Queens led 18-11 in the first-quarter. Eventually, half-time ended 28-28, before the Queens restored the lead at 43-36. But the tide of the game changed as England’s captain and goal shooter Rosie Allison began to find the net with more frequency.

The decision to insert Kathryn Turner at goal attack in the second and third also proved pivotal, the substitute taking eight from nine attempts during a period when England finally got to grips with the Malawian way, added the newspaper.

“We have a really interesting group here including some who were not successful in selection for the Commonwealth Games and had to put that disappointment behind them,” Murphy added.

“Malawi are unlike any other side in that they are very aerial as well as very skilful. They play a somewhat unorthodox style and, the fact many of these girls have never played Malawi, offers promise for the future of English netball.”

Malawi next face Wales before proceeding to the Commonwealth Games.