Netball World Cup 2019
England 64-32 Uganda
M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Friday, 12-07-2019
The Uganda Cranes got off to a bad start at the 2019 Netball World Cup taking place in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Vincent Kiwanuka’s side were dominated throughout the game on their way to a 32-64 loss to host England at the M&S Arena on Friday.
The result never looked in doubt for the Roses as they went into halftime with a 13 goal lead.
Cheered on by an energetic home crowd, England could not believe their luck as Uganda’s Stella Oyella who had earlier received a verbal warning for aggressive play, was sent to the sin bin in the third quarter, spending two minutes out of the game.
The Center was eventually sent of the fourth quarter, seeing the Cranes finish a player less.
Uganda’s only positive on the night was Peace Preoscovia who scored 20 from 23 attempts.
For England, who have now beaten Uganda in all of the two sides’ last 5 meetings, they were as impressive as they would have dreamed, shooting over 87%.
What the coaches said after the game
Rashid Mubiru, She Cranes assistant coach
“I know the Roses are good but it’s not the start we wanted.
“It was a little physical, we came for a competition, not only one game, now we look to tomorrow.
“There will always be a loser and winner, am very happy for my girls for pushing up to the end.”
Tracey Neville, England Roses head coach
“If anyone said you’d have beaten the She-Cranes by 30 goals in our first World Cup match I would have taken that before the game.
“They are a very difficult team to play, they lost a bit of consistency and their heads, however they very rarely play at that international level and I am sure they will learn from that.
“I am pleased with our girls in the way they went out, persisted with their performance, chugged away at the score line and the players we had an opportunity to get out on court continued to build on the score line. So overall a good performance.”
After a false start, the She Cranes will be hoping to regroup as they take on Samoa on Saturday while England face a familiar foe in Scotland.
How the She Cranes started against England
Lilian Ajio (GD), Ruth Meeme (WA), Joan Nampungu (GK), Stella Oyella (C), Peace Proscovia (GS), Sylvia Nanyonga (WD), Racheal Nanyonga (GA)
Friday’s other Results
Group A
-Australia 88-24 N.Ireland
-Zimbabwe 79-49 Sri Lanka
Group B
-New Zealand 64-45 Malawi
-Singapore 34-69 Barbados
Group C
-Jamaica 85-29 Fiji
-South Africa 76-45 Trinidad and Tobago
Group D
-Scotland 53-35 Samoa
