Finally some Sunshine for the Girls

Photo: Sunshine Girls take a bite into their bronze medals (Sunshine Girls)

The Jamaican Sunshine Girls returned to the podium at the Commonwealth Games for the first time since 2002 with a sparkling performance over the England Roses to grab the netball bronze medal in a tense, nail biting third/fourth playoff game on Sunday as the curtains came down on Glasgow.

Setting themselves a minimum target of third place before the games begun, the Girls succumbed to the eventual champions Australia in the semi-finals when they were beaten 57-42. But unlike the last time when they failed to show up for the bronze medal game and were mauled by the English lasses, the Jamaicans were ready. Physically and mentally they matched their opponents in a gripping encounter.

After trailing 11-14 at the end of the first quarter the Jamaicans managed a 4 points swing in the second quarter to lead by one at the half time interval as the scoreboard read Jamaica 25-24 England.

But the world number three ranked team was not about to roll over and play dead. They fought the girls from the Caribbean tooth and nail leveling the game at the end of three 37-37.

With all to play for in the final quarter both teams left everything out on the floor but in the end the Jamaicans managed to pull away for a 52-48 win, before celebrating in style as though they had struck gold. It was sweet revenge for a team that has endured a lot to return to a place on the podium at the Commonwealth Games.