Commonwealth Games 2018(Netball)
Gold coast, Australia
Uganda 54-52 Malawi
Referee: Micheal Oliver
Saturday 07-April
Uganda Netball Team, the She Cranes picked their first victory at the ongoing Commonwealth games in Australia on the second time of asking.
The team lost their first game 64-51 to New Zealand and they came into the game knowing that only victory would better their chances of qualification for the knockout stages.
The She Cranes on Saturday morning edged out fellow African nation Malawi 54-52 in a game played at the Gold Coast convention Centre.
Team captain Peace Proscovia, who plays for Loughborough Lightning in the United Kingdom, led the team with a game high 43 goals from 47 attempts, a conversion rate of just over 93%
Uganda had a brilliant start, leading the Malawi Queens 18-10 inside the first break.
The Malawi queens were not to go down without a fight and won next two quarters 12-15 and 10-14 to set up a mouth-watering final last quarter.
Leading 40-39 inside the last quarter, the She Cranes held on despite strong resistance from the opponents up to the last wire, to seal a hard fought 54-52 victory.
Rachael Nanyonga also had a good game, scoring 21 goals on top of the 14 she grabbed in the first game against New Zealand.
Malawi’s experienced Superstar Mwayi Kunada led the charts with 42 goals but her effort was not all that enough to stop the She Cranes from grabbing their maiden win.
This was the She Cranes second victory in just under a year over Malawi after defeating them in the African Netball championship 66-43 nine months ago.
The victory leaves Uganda in 3rd on the log with just one victory from two games.
Uganda’s next game will be against England on Sunday morning.
The other games played Saturday.
Northern Ireland vs South Africa
Scotland vs Wales
Fiji will vs Berbados.
Uganda’s Starting Seven:
Lilian Ajio, Ruth Meeme, Halima Nakachwa, Stella Nanfuka, Florence Nanyonga, Florence Nanyonga, Rachael Nanyonga and Peace Proscovia.
Used Subs:
Betty Kiiza, Namuwaya Muhayimuna and Joan Nampungu.
Un used Subs:
Hadija Nakabuye and Stella Oyella.
Coach: Joan Nyongesa
