Jamaica's goal attack Simone Forbes (left) is fouled by New Zealand's Joline Henry as she attempts to catch the ball during first-half action in the second Test of the National Commercial Bank Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

It was a not a game for the faint-hearted but in the end, Jamaica's Sunshine Girls battled hard to chisel out only their second win in 43 encounters against New Zealand's Silver Ferns and, in the process, level their two-match National Commercial Bank Sunshine Series with a 53-50 result inside the National Indoor Sports Centre last night.

Hundreds of fans screamed in support as Romelda Aiken shot 38 goals from 47 attempts, while Simone Forbes added 15 from 19, to lead the Jamaicans' charge.

Irene Van Dyk (15 from 23) and Maria Tutaia (23 from 27) shot the goals for the visitors, who had no answer to the relentless intensity of the hosts.

Winning coach, Connie Francis, was naturally happy with the result and credited her team's hard work and determination for the long-awaited victory.

Worked hard

Said Francis: "I'm very happy. Credit goes to the bunch of players who worked hard for this, they fully deserve to finish the year on such a high note. We have changed our preparation and the strenght and conditioning work really paid off for us."

Francis added: "The girls played hard and really put them under pressure. I am happy with the way we executed tonight. Full credit to the girls."

The Jamaicans, despite getting the first goal, fell on the backfoot in the opening exchanges and found themselves trailing by six goals, before rallying to record an 8-4 run to close the opening quarter two points behind the Ferns at 14-16.

They then produced one of their best quarters in the series, to close the second period leading 27-21, on the back of vice-grip-like defending from the likes of Althea Byfield and Nicole Aiken, complemented by the aggressive play and defending shooting at the other end by the other Aiken sibling, Romelda.

The locals held their lead from midway the second quarter all the way through to the end, to secure a win that will make the rest of the netball world take real note of their ascension as a serious threat to netball's top two positions.

Conceded

New Zealand's coach, Ruth Aitken, applauded the Jamaicans and conceded that her team was second-best on the night.

"They deserved the win," Aitken said. "The Jamaicans really stepped up and we weren't able to. I think we fought hard in the third and fourth quarters, but the Jamaicans weren't giving it away. We started accurately tonight, but the pressure that Jamaicans put us under tonight really made it difficult."