From Netball Singapore…
SINGAPORE VANDAS SUFFER FIRST LOSS IN THE MIRXES NATIONS CUP TO KENYA
The Singapore Vandas faced a challenging match on the third day of the Mirxes Nations Cup, falling to a strong Kenyan side with a score of 36-49.
Despite applying solid defensive pressure throughout the court, Singapore struggled with inconsistency in their shooting, which Kenya capitalised on. Kenya took control early, ending the first half with a 25-17 lead.
Although the Singapore Vandas fought back valiantly, they couldn’t match Kenya’s physical prowess and athleticism. Over the 60 minutes, Kenya’s clinical play and finishing – reflected in their impressive 92% shooting accuracy – proved decisive.
Kenyan Captain Parin Nasambu Simiyu shared her thoughts after the match: “The team performed very well today. When we lost yesterday, it gave us the chance to go and work on our weaknesses, and that is why we came back fully revived. We knew it was a very important match for us, so we just had to work on our weaknesses so that we could improve for our match today.”
United Arab Emirates Remains Unbeaten
In the day’s first match, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continued their unbeaten streak, securing a comfortable 64-39 victory over Canada.
Canada showed remarkable improvement from their previous games, challenging the table-topping UAE team in the first half and even securing their first-ever quarter win in the tournament with a 14-12 scoreline in the second quarter.
However, UAE responded strongly in the third quarter, dominating with a 22-8 score that created an insurmountable lead. Despite Canada’s efforts in the final quarter, the gap was too large to close.
Post-match, young UAE defender Fiona Van Dam, who earned her first international cap this week, reflected: “I think we had a little bit of a slow start, and we took things a little bit for granted, but we came back and it was a good game. It was a little bit physical, but the girls came and gave it our all.”
Ireland Proves Too Strong for Singapore A
In the day’s second match, Ireland secured their first win of the tournament by overpowering Singapore A with a 59-48 victory.
Singapore A started the match with a strong 6-0 lead, but Ireland quickly responded with eight consecutive goals, taking an 8-6 lead and maintaining a 16-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Despite Singapore A’s determined efforts, Ireland’s experience ultimately shone through, leading them to a well-earned victory.
Looking ahead to the next matches, Ireland’s Captain Fran Duffy commented: “For the next few games, we want to make sure we do build on each game, so we go back and reflect and do our analysis. We want to make sure that we learn and grow as a team. It’s a very young team, so essentially, each time, we want to make sure we individually are learning things about ourselves and our team.”
Final Scores:
UAE vs Canada: 64-39
Ireland vs Singapore A: 59-48
Singapore vs Kenya: 36-49
