Some excerpts from English newspapers during the 1963 World Tournament
11 countries in netball
Eleven countries are taking part in the first ever World Netball Tournament that starts at Chelsea College on Friday. The countries taking part are Australia, Ceylon, England, Jamaica, Trinidad, Wales, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and West Indies. Sessions are to be held at 10.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each weekday (except August 3, 8 and 10 when the times are 10.30 and 5). Both BBC and ITV will be televising the event and the officials of each country will be the guests of the Corporation at a dinner at The Cumberland Hotel on Friday night. Enthusiasts who miss this unique event may not get another chance to see a tournament of this nature in this country.
A Shock Defeat at Netball
A below-form England were soundly beaten 44-30 by Australia in one of the major shocks, so far, in the world netball tournament at Eastbourne, yesterday. Showing greater speed, understanding and determination, Australia attacked from the start and were always in front. At the end of the first quarter, they led 11-6, and though England hung on at 16-20 half time, all hopes of an English recovery were dashed by some poor shooting by Annette Cairncross and Valerie Hindmarsh.
Australia 44 (M Caldow 31, J McIver 13), England 30 (A Cairncross 15, V Hindmarsh 15)
A Beating for England
England met New Zealand for the first time in netball history yesterday morning, when the world netball tournament entered its fourth day. England started well and could have ended the first quarter with a substantial lead instead of being 9-11 down, had their shooting been more accurate. They pulled up to 12 – 12 in the second period but fell away again to be 20-25 down at half-time and were never in the hunt again. Results of the morning were New Zealand 56 England 29, Jamaica 42 Scotland 20, Australia 94 Wales 7.
Netball wins world rating
The old mistaken idea that netball is a game only for children in the lower school from which they graduate to lacrosse or hockey is shattered finally this week by the class of play seen at Eastbourne in the first Netball Championship of the world. Eleven countries are competing. The enterprise, organised without the aid of any precedent, is that of All England Netball Association and the game, with its new international federation, which was only a vague dream 30 years ago, is now on a fresh basis. Australia started favourites, when the championship began on August 2nd, with New Zealand a close second and England, South Africa, Jamaica and Trinidad not far behind.
Now that 40 of the 55 matches have been played, there can be no doubt that short of half their team falling ill, Australia will be the first world champions next Wednesday. With eight match victories and undefeated so far, they have Northern Ireland to play tomorrow and South Africa on Tuesday, and there is no one left with a hope of beating them. Only once have the Australians been in danger, when they beat New Zealand by one goal in the greatest netball match ever seen. Their co-ordination, placing, passing and shooting are superb; their main fault a tendency to obstruct. Australia’s girls, chosen from 70,000 players, are obviously fighting fit even after a hour’s strenuous play. As champions, they will set a world standard that will be hard to beat when the next meeting is held in four years time.
More want to join the world netball “club”
When the first world netball tournament ended at Eastbourne, it was announced that five more Commonwealth countries had joined the organising federation and that the United States of America were showing interest. The bronzed Australian team were the triumphant first world champions, having won all 10 of their matches to gain 20 points. New Zealand were second with 18 and England third with 16. At the closing ceremony, the 11 teams paraded in their smart uniforms behind their national flags. The national anthem was played and then the anthems of South Africa, who played against the coloured girls despite their doctrine of apartheid. The flags of the 10 remaining countries were held in an arch of honour as the Australians followed their flag through to the sound of “Waltzing Matilda”.
