Researched and written by Lurch

Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006 Netball Statistics

Placings/Teams | Draw/Results | Statistics


Highest Score 116-26 New Zealand def Sri Lanka 2002
Lowest Score 17-85 Malaysia lost to Australia 1998
Biggest Margin 116-26 New Zealand def Sri Lanka 2002
Most Goals (player/match) Irene van Dyk 58/62 94% v Sri Lanka 2002; Elaine Davis 58/64 91% v Fiji 2002
Most Accurate (team/match) South Africa 38/41 93% v Australia 2002
Highest Losing Score 63-64 Malawi lost to Cook Islands 1998

AUSTRALIA
Seeded 1
Ranked 2

WANTED: MIRACLE
It could be a struggle for the Aussies to clinch a third-straight gold medal. Looking at the state of netball in New Zealand should be cause for concern across the Tasman as the host nation prepares for the imminent 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Australia will need to shoot over 85% consistently, especially against Jamaica and in the finals.
Each team member averages just over 24 caps - experienced enough you would hope. But countering a black and silver unit who average over 46 caps per player will be a tough ask. Even England are more experienced than the Aussies.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 85-17 v Malaysia; 85-25 v Canada 1998
Lowest Score 42-39 v New Zealand 1998
Biggest Winning Margin 85-17 v Malaysia 1998
Most Goals (player/match) Catherine Cox 39/50 78% v South Africa 2002
Highest Losing Score Have never lost a game
Lowest Winning Score 42-39 v New Zealand 1998

2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Wales
Barbados
Samoa
Jamaica
Malaysia

1998 PLACING GOLD
2002 PLACING GOLD
2006 PREDICTION SILVER

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BARBADOS
Seeded 9
Ranked 7

ANOTHER POKE IN THE EYE
Barbados can often turn matches into physical and spiteful encounters, but their lack of discipline means they generally end up second best. If their defence can control themselves and attack well, they may cause a few upsets. They were unfortunate not to finish higher in Manchester and will be looking to improve their seed of ninth. Margins will play a big part in deciphering which team finishes 3rd to 6th in each pool, so it is imperative for teams like Barbados to play out the full 60 minutes. If Janelle Barker graces the GS bib and shots consistently over 80%, and they keep their bodies in check, Barbados may finish higher than predicted.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 64-30 v Canada 2002
Lowest Score 20-65 v Jamaica 2002
Biggest Margin 64-30 v Canada 2002
Most Goals (player/match) Cheryl Squires 39 v Canada 2002
Highest Losing Score 40-41 v Sri Lanka 2002
Lowest Winning Score 46-44 v Fiji 2002

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Jamaica
Australia
Malaysia
Samoa
Wales

1998 PLACING EIGHTH
2002 PLACING NINTH
2006 PREDICTION SIXTH

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ENGLAND
Seeded 4
Ranked 4

THE POMS GO MARCHING
Series wins against South Africa and even battles Jamaica over the past two years or so have given England confidence they can snare a medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Captain Olivia Murphy has been leading by example and marshalling her troopes in attack. With this however, are some concerns, including their inability to shoot over 80% consistently against the top sides. Their defensive unit must stand up to the challenge and shut down quality attack without giving away too many penalties. Only time will tell.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 90-22 v Cook Islands 2002
Lowest Score 29-66 v Australia 1998
Biggest Winning Margin 90-22 v Cook Islands 2002
Biggest Losing Margin 35-67 v New Zealand 2002
Most Goals (player/match) Alex Astle 42/66 64% v Wales 2002
Highest Losing Score 53-55 v Jamaica 2002
Lowest Winning Score 51-29 v Barbados 1998

2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Malawi
Fiji
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
New Zealand
South Africa

1998 PLACING BRONZE
2002 PLACING FOURTH
2006 PREDICTION FOURTH

QUICK FACT
Against Australia in their past 10 encounters, Australia has averaged 53.3 goals per game compared to 32.9 for England.
New Zealand has played England 64 times, New Zealand 61 wins, England 1 and 2 drawn matches. Incidentally, England?s only win and 2 drawn matches against the Kiwis were in New Zealand. Of their past 10 games against New Zealand, England average 37.9 goals per game, compared to 59.2 for New Zealand.
Accuracy in goals has long been a concern for England. They averaged 70% at the 2003 World Champs and 78% at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. They average just 65% against Australia over their past 10 matches.

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FIJI
Seeded 7
Ranked 8

ISLAND TH[R]EAT
If the team is peppered with seasoned veterans and consistently accurate goalers Taraima Rara and Matelita Shaw make the team, things could turn around for the island nation. Fiji is yet to make a big impact on the international circuit, but are consistent performers come tournament time. They lack what most lower ranked nations crave ? regular international matches. Australia and New Zealand should be looking at inviting nations across the shores to compete, even if they are classified as ?Friendly? and not registered as an International. This will allow teams like Fiji regular contact with the top teams and umpires, which will enable them to enhance their chances at major tournaments, and will also provide crowds with more chances to see the national side in action.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 80-42 v Sri Lanka 2002
Lowest Score 33-84 v Jamaica 2002
Biggest Margin 80-42 v Sri Lanka 2002
Most Goals (player/match) Taraima Rara 30 v Canada 2002
Highest Losing Score 44-46 v Fiji 2002
Lowest Winning Score 75-39 v Canada 2002

2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
England
New Zealand
Malawi
South Africa
St. Vincent and the Grenadines

1998 PLACING DID NOT COMPETE
2002 PLACING SEVENTH
2006 PREDICTION SEVENTH

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JAMAICA
Seeded 3
Ranked 3

OBERON AND OUT
Former Jamaican Captain Oberon Pitterson will be looking to cap off a great career with a medal as she enters what could possibly be an extended stint as Head Coach, having taken the reigns since late 2005. Come March 2006, things will be a little different. Having played against New Zealand and Australia this year with five experienced international absentees; Carla Williams, Simone Forbes, Georgia Gordon, Sharon Wiles and Connie Francis, Jamaica is looking to blood a few new faces into the side, and fast. Succumbing to defeat against Australia by a total series margin of 40 and against New Zealand by 18 and 35, Pitterson will be hoping that lack of experience has turned around in a few short months.
Playing against the top two countries in the world, Jamaica blooded 7 new players into the team including 200cm giant GS Romelda Aitken. Her awkwardness and inexperience was exploited last year, and with some of the experienced players returning into the team from basketball in America, Jamaica may be able to build a force to be reckoned with come March.
Jamaica averaged a respectable 83% accuracy in goals at the last World Champs, but will need to step up a gear against Australia and New Zealand, where they only shot at an average of 75%.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 84-33 v Fiji 2002
Lowest Score 33-60 v Australia 2002
Biggest Winning Margin 83-26 v Malaysia 1998
Biggest Losing Margin 38-70 v Australia 1998
Most Goals (player/match) Elaine Davis 58/64 91% v Fiji 2002
Highest Losing Score 51-69 v New Zealand 2002
Lowest Winning Score 55-53 v England 2002

2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Malaysia
Barbados
Wales
Australia
Samoa

1998 PLACING FIFTH
2002 PLACING BRONZE
2006 PREDICTION BRONZE

QUICK FACT
Australia has won 25 of the 30 matches it has played against Jamaica. Jamaica has won 3 and there have been 2 drawn. It will be 12 years since Australia has played Jamaica on home soil come the Games. In the last 10 matches, Australia has averaged 50.8 goals per game to Jamaica?s 42.0. But in Commonwealth Games results Australia has had the upper hand, wining 70-38 in 1998 and 60-33 in 2002.
New Zealand has won 34 of 37 games played against Jamaica; the Sunshine Girls have won only once, in 2002, at home, and there have been 2 drawn games.

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MALAWI
Seeded Unseeded
Ranked Unranked

NOT JUST MAKING UP THE NUMBERS
They have not competed at an international tournament since the 1999 World Champs in Christchurch, New Zealand where they finished 11th by defeating Singapore 62-52. Malawi did not compete at the 2002 Commonwealth Games or the 2003 World Champs.
They have only met Australia once previously, at the 1999 World Champs, with Australia winning 75-32.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 77-24 v Sri Lanka 1998
Lowest Score 41-77 v New Zealand 1998
Biggest Margin 77-24 v Sri Lanka 1998
Most Goals (player/match) Unknown
Highest Losing Score 63-64 v Cook Islands 1998
Lowest Winning Score 57-50 v Wales 1998

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
England
South Africa
Fiji
St Vincent and the Grenadines
New Zealand

1998 PLACING SEVENTH
2002 PLACING DID NOT COMPETE
2006 PREDICTION TENTH

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NEW ZEALAND
Seeded 2
Ranked 1

GOLD FERNS, NOT SILVER
Those from the land of the long white cloud can surely see the gold lining in sight. A continuation from their stellar 2005 performances by the Kiwis can all but assure them gold medal honours in Melbourne. They will be looking to bring home the gold from the games, something that has eluded them since netball was introduced as a permanent fixture to the Commonwealth Games, in 1998.
The same squad that pumped England, Australia, Barbados and Jamaica look poised to do it all again as they seek to complete the workings of a four-year plan put in place by coach Ruth Aitken when she took the coaching reigns in 2002.
Bit by bit the Ferns have chiselled away at Australia?s ?invincible? status and have put fear into the side that won 21 of 24 games against them in the 90?s.
Looking back to the 80?s, New Zealand won 13 of 21 games between the two nations, with the likes of Tanya Cox, Joan Hodson and Leonie Leaver leading the charge. Looking at the Ferns of today it is clear to see that level of sheer brilliance is back on court once more in Villimaina Davu, Temepara George and Irene van Dyk. If they can average 90% in the goal circle, as they did at the 2003 World Championships, no-one will surpass them for the gold. With a team boasting in excess of 550 caps between the 12, the Ferns are far from inexperienced. I can?t see anyone matching them for a chance at the gold. And now is as a good a time as any to claim it.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 116-26 v Sri Lanka 2002
Lowest Score 39-42 v Australia 1998
Biggest Winning Margin 116-26 v Sri Lanka 2002
Biggest Losing Margin 39-42 v Australia 2002
Most Goals (player/match) Irene van Dyk 58/62 94% v Sri Lanka 2002
Highest Losing Score 55-57 v Australia 2002
Lowest Winning Score 63-35 v South Africa 1998

2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Fiji
South Africa
England
Malawi

1998 PLACING SILVER
2002 PLACING SILVER
2006 PREDICTION GOLD

QUICK FACT
Against Australia in their past 10 encounters, dating back to the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Australia has averaged 47.3 goals per game compared to 52.4 for New Zealand. New Zealand has won 7 of those 10 matches since the last Games in Manchester.

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SAMOA
Seeded Unseeded
Ranked 6

LOADED WITH SOME AMMO
Making their debut at this years Commonwealth Games is a great feat in itself, but being competitive is something entirely different. For Samoa it should not be such a difficult task.
With Linda Vagana finishing her international netball career with Samoa at the 2003 World Champs, the team was able to climb a few rungs in the rankings. In fact they leap-frogged Barbados, Fiji, Trinidad & Tobago and Cook Islands.
It will be interesting to see is if their performance was Vagana-driven or whether Samoa are really improving. They may find themselves competing with Barbados and Fiji for a higher result come finals time in what will be their maiden attempt.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Malaysia
Wales
Australia
Barbados
Jamaica

1998 PLACING DID NOT COMPETE
2002 PLACING DID NOT COMPETE
2006 PREDICTION NINTH

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SINGAPORE
Seeded 0
Ranked 0

INFO
Coming

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Jamaica
Samoa
Barbados
Wales
Australia

1998 PLACING 0
2002 PLACING 0
2006 PREDICTION 0

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SOUTH AFRICA
Seeded 5
Ranked 5

GREATER HEIGHTS
Losing the test series against England 3-0 won?t exactly give them confidence heading into the Games. It seems they were able to stick with England for half a game before drifting off, and with that, the margins increased and ended up losing the series by a total of 60 goals. The series loss in 2004 totaled a 52 goal difference.
Desmarie Kotze is back playing after a lengthy 18 month lay-off and is once again steering their defence. Sindi Gumede is once more shooting accurately, but if often starved of possession.
A question has to be raised over the selection of the team. It appears a different team is chosen each time a test series or tournament is approaching, not every calendar year as occurs in Australia, New Zealand and England. By doing this they loose fluency within the team and can never pick the right time to blood new players. What happened to Elsje Jordaan, Martha Machoga, Alecia Senekal and Bronwyn Bock-Jonathon?
With the height of Sindi Gumede, South Africa should be able to cause a few dints in the campaigns of the higher ranked sides. They need to turn over a great amount of ball to win because they are a little flat in the intercept department and tend to concede a few too many turnovers. There is enough height in attack to score freely and at a high conversion rate, it?s just a matter of getting enough ball supply. Sourcing a little more height in the midcourt will aid in the reduction of their error rate and may increase the intercept count.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 91-22 v Sri Lanka 1998
Lowest Score 35-63 v New Zealand 1998
Biggest Margin 91-22 v Sri Lanka 1998
Most Goals (player/match) Sindi Gumede 56 v Wales 2002
Highest Losing Score 55-66 v Jamaica 2002
Lowest Winning Score 52-42 v Fiji 2002

2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Malawi
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
New Zealand
Fiji
England

1998 PLACING FOURTH
2002 PLACING FIFTH
2006 PREDICTION FIFTH

QUICK FACT
They average around 75% accuracy each time they meet Australia.

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ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Seeded Unseeded
Ranked 13

GREEN WITH DELIGHT
St. Vincent are relatively unknown in International Netball, before the 2003 World Champs they had not competed at an international tournament since the 1995 World Champs in Birmingham, England. Australia has played them only once, at the 1995 World Champs, winning 90-23.
At the 2003 World Championships St. Vincent defeated Wales to take 13th place in the world 51-30, after winning 44-35 and 45-37 against them in the earlier Rounds.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
New Zealand
South Africa
England
Malawi
Fiji

1998 PLACING DID NOT COMPETE
2002 PLACING DID NOT COMPETE
2006 PREDICTION ELEVENTH

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WALES
Seeded 6
Ranked 14

SIXTH HEAVEN
Having only defeated Sri Lanka and Canada at either of the past Commonwealth Games, (and drawing with Cook Islands) Wales should be looking to consolidate its position as one of the better netball nations with a performance in March that will hold them in good stead come the 2007 World Champs in Suva, Fiji. The finished sixth at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and look to achieve the same result come Games time. Their most recent international was against Jamaica late last year, in which they were soundly beaten 60-27 at home.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HISTORY
Highest Score 63-45 v Sri Lanka 1998
Lowest Score 18-81 v England 2002
Biggest Margin 63-45 v Sri Lanka 1998
Most Goals (player/match) Mair Jones 37 v Canada 2002
Highest Losing Score 59-59 v Cook Islands 1998
Lowest Winning Score 48-47 v Sri Lanka 2002

2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAW
Australia
Samoa
Jamaica
Malaysia
Barbados

1998 PLACING DID NOT COMPETE
2002 PLACING SIXTH
2006 PREDICTION EIGHTH

QUICK FACT
Australia has never been beaten by Wales and leads their encounters 9-0. The last time Australia played Wales was in 1993, with Australia winning 84-18. Australia averages a 56 goal winning margin over the nine matches played.