NationNewsBusinessDown to the wire in netball

Down to the wire in netball

After trailing by as many as 13, Barbados fought England to the wire before losing the second netball Test 53-48 today at the University of Bath.
Although England led all quarters 15-12, 32-24 and 44-35, Barbados held a brief lead 6-3 and extended it to 7-5 before England tied it 8-8, then went ahead for good.
But turnovers and poor passing proved to be the downfall of the Bajan lasses as half-time approached and England gradually pulled ahead through some accurate shooting from captain Pamela Cookey and Rachel Dunn.
Barbados didn’t have as many attempts in the second quarter, but were a perfect 12 from 12.
England hit their stride in the third and began to pull away as 35-27 became 40-30 and 43-30, the largest lead.
Barbados went on a five-goal spree at the end of the third and start of the fourth to narrow the lead to eight (44-36) and Cookey was brought back into the game to provide some stability in the attack.
With just over seven minutes remaining, the England lead had been cut to five (47-42) and it went as low as three (50-47) before Cookey scored to give England the breather. The Barbados starters were Laurel Browne, Nakita Piggott, Damisha Croney, Samantha Browne, Kizzy Marville, Latonia Blackman and Rhe-Ann Niles.
Browne scored 21 from 22 and Piggott 27 from 30.
Barbados lost the opening match 72-41 and play the final Test tomorrow in Surrey. (SAT)