Queens out of Champs race

Error-prone Malawi netball Queens took a reverse gear from good to bad after messing up their 2014 Glasgow XX Commonwealth Games campaign with a 50-81 loss to Jamaica in Scotland last night.

Malawi, who take on hosts, Scotland, tonight can no longer realistically challenge for the championship, but just the third place. Yet with more determination, the prospects could have been different last night.

The Nation monitored the match on SuperSport 7.

The Queens, ranked fifth in the world and first in Africa, were supposed to build on their narrow three-basket loss to second-placed New Zealand on Friday. Instead, in the Pool A contest, they failed to rediscover their A game against the physically and defensive fourth-ranked Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls.

With the supply lines cut of shooter Mwawi Kumwenda, wing-defender and wing-attacker Beatrice Mpinganjira either misplacing centre court passes or being disposed, Malawi lost the opening two quarters 25-10 and 48-25.

Sensing obvious danger, their coach Mary Waya dragged out Grace Mwafulirwa for Lorraine Ngwira, who switched into goalkeeper stepping in for Towera Vinkhumbo who was redeployed as wing-defender. Suddenly, the Queens had aerial presence to minimise Jamaica goal shooter Jhanielle Fowler-Reid’s threat and the muscles to deal with their towering defenders.

Waya also withdrew goal attacker Sindi Simtowe and centre Tina Kamzati for Jane Chimaliro and Takondwa Lwazi.

The substitutions gave the Queens some life, but they still committed too many match play errors 8-2, 11-3, 14-6 in the first, second and third quarters against the Jamaicans who hardly misplaced a ball, let alone missed the target.

Finally, the trend of the Queens never beating better ranked opposition continues.