NZ beats Jamaica in netball thriller

The New Zealand netballers turned back recent history by edging out Jamaica 53-48 in a critical group match.

The victory was vital because it virtually assures New Zealand of winning their pool, and therefore avoiding a semi-final

against world champions Australia, who beat England 66-47 earlier in the day.

New Zealand have had a horror run in recent times against the free-flowing Jamaican team, with heavy losses in the last world championship and Commonwealth Games.

Though the scores were close this time, New Zealand always held a slight advantage, but there wasn't much in it - at halftime the Jamaicans had pulled back to 26-25, so there'd have been a few nervous flutters on the New Zealand bench.

'That was massive. We knew it was going to be a tough hit-out coming up against a quality side like Jamaica and I was really proud of the girls that we were able to stick it out,' New Zealand captain Karin Burger said.

'Everybody out there put their hand up to make sure that every ball was contested and our possession was scored, so it was a really, really good game for us.'

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua stuck with her tactic of using Mila Reuelu-Buchanan in the unfamiliar position of wing defence for her speed and hustling abilities with Maddy Gordon (wing attack) and Kate Heffernan (centre) rounding out the midcourt.

With the back three defensive trio of Reuelu-Buchanan, Burger and Kelly Jackson prominent in picking up timely gains, New Zealand hustled Jamaica into early lapses.

In respective shooters, Grace Nweke for New Zealand and her opposite veteran Romelda Aiken-George, the two sides had towering targets at each end with Georgia Heffernan playing primarily a feeder role into Nweke while Jamaica mixed their attacking plays between both their shooters.

After a rest day, New Zealand will next meet Uganda.