Sunshine Girls thrash Trinidad and Tobago by 59 goals in Commonwealth Games opener

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls launched their Commonwealth Games netball campaign with a commanding 81-22 victory over Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago in their opening Pool B match. The game, held at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, saw the third-ranked Jamaicans deliver a defensive masterclass, restricting Trinidad and Tobago to a Commonwealth Games record low of 22 goals.

The Sunshine Girls' dominance was evident throughout the match. They established a significant lead of 24-5 in the first quarter and extended it to 43-12 by halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Jamaica was ahead 60-20. The team utilized their entire bench in the final quarter, which they won 17-8, further emphasizing their control over the game.

UK-based Azara Wilmot made a stellar debut for the senior team, leading all scorers with an impressive 33 goals from 41 attempts. Veteran player Romelda Aikens also contributed significantly, scoring 25 goals from just 27 attempts. Shanice Beckford was flawless, converting all 16 of her attempts, and Rhea Dixon added seven goals from 11 attempts.

For Trinidad and Tobago, Afeisha Noel scored 17 goals from 19 attempts, while Joelisa Cooper contributed the remaining five goals from seven attempts. The Sunshine Girls are set to face New Zealand on Sunday and Uganda on Monday in their upcoming pool matches.