Queens seal top position
Malawi National Netball Team yesterday wrapped up their Pool A matches at the ongoing PacificAus Netball Series in Australia with a third straight win over Samoa.
The Malawi Queens thumped the world’s 18th ranked team 57-39 to seal their top slot.
The 18-basket margin win was an improvement from the seven-basket gap over 19th-ranked Fiji in their opener and the 15-basket margin victory over 39th-ranked Papua New Guinea in their second group fixture.
The Malawi National Netball Team has now finished top in their group and will face a side that will settle for the second place in Pool B tomorrow.
So far, the world’s sixth-ranked Queens and seventh-ranked Tonga are the only sides that have chalked straight wins at the eight-team tournament.
Tonga are in Group B alongside Zambia, Kenya and Singapore.
In a match monitored on Netball Australia TV yesterday, Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa did not change her starting formation comprising experienced players shooter Sindi Simtowe-Msowoya, goal-attacker Jane Chimaliro, wing-attacker Shira Dimba, centre Takondwa Lwazi, wing-defender Grace Mwafulirwa-Mhango, goal-defender Martha Dambo and goalkeeper Laureen Ngwira.
The Queens put up a gallant fight to comfortably lead 15-10 in the first quarter before increasing the tally to 31-21 and 44-31 in the subsequent segments.
Former Queens player Annie Mopiha yesterday said although the Queens seemed to have upped their performance, they still need to work extra hard to get to the desired level.
“They are fond of losing possession and making some costly avoidable errors such as foot faults. They need to improve in every aspect of the game to be a perfect side,” she said.
The PacificAus Series are the Queens’ only preparatory event ahead of the Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa this July. The tournament will also be used to determine the world rankings.
The contest is also a litmus test for six new faces in the 14-player Queens squad after four oversees professionals Mwawi Kumwenda-M’bwana, Joyce Mvula-Nyirenda, Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda and Carol Mtukule-Ngwira failed to make the Australia trip.
