Jamaica Defeats England to Claim Horizon Series Title

Jamaica, ranked fourth globally, secured a decisive victory against England, who are ranked second, to win the inaugural Horizon Series 2-1 and lift the Rhone Hornsby Trophy. The Sunshine Girls, as the Jamaican team is known, emerged victorious with a 61-53 score on Tuesday. Their win followed a crucial last-second goal in game three, which had forced the four-match series into a deciding game. England, under coach Jess Thirlby, initially held a four-goal advantage by the conclusion of the first quarter. However, Jamaica, supported by their home audience in Kingston, erased this lead by half-time and subsequently extended their own lead to eight goals. England captain Francesca Williams expressed her thoughts, stating: “It’s disappointing for us when we started that game so strongly to let them back in.” She added: “It’s an amazing experience to play here. This heat and the atmosphere and vibes they have here – but that’s no excuse for not showing up and being able to perform.” In the initial match held in Manchester, Jamaica secured a 49-49 draw by scoring in the final second. Subsequently, the Roses, representing England, equalized the series with a 55-47 win in the second game. Jamaica’s captain, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who received the player of the series award, commented: “It’s an overwhelming feeling.” She further remarked: “My team hasn’t played international netball since the World Cup and to come out here and put out a performance like that against a team who have played 17 Test matches is very commendable.” The Horizon Series is scheduled to occur over a four-year period, involving these two teams, with two matches hosted in England and two in Jamaica annually.