Calypso Girls lose Netball World Cup opener against New Zealand

Trinidad and Tobago had a rough start to their 2023 Netball World Cup campaign on Friday as defending champions New Zealand executed a commanding 76-27 victory in the opening match at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa.

Despite the loss, the Calypso Girls’ Afeisha Noel showed good form by scoring 16 of her 17 attempts while compatriot Joelisa Cooper was brilliant, scoring all 11 attempts.

But their efforts were in vain as the Silver Ferns’ Grace Nweke (31/31), Maia Wilson (22/24), Te Peae Selby-Rickit (15/19) and Ameliaranne Ekenasio (8/9) were also on point to seal an emphatic win.

New Zealand dominated from the get-go and TT scored their first after six minutes of play. They won the first quarter 23-2.

Into the second period, TT increased their goal scoring rate but the Silver Ferns still entered the half-time break with a strong 43-11 lead.

The Calypso Girls looked better and scored nine in the third period but New Zealand kept the upper hand and entered the final segment 58-20.

TT return to Pool D action on Saturday, from 3am (TT time) against Singapore and play their final group match against Uganda on Sunday, from 10am.

Friday’s 11th meeting between the two countries at the World Cup saw New Zealand maintain their unbeaten record against TT.