Uganda’s She Cranes delivered a strong performance on the opening day of the Fast5 World Netball Series in New Zealand, rebounding from early setbacks to secure a convincing win over England.
Facing some of the world’s top-ranked teams, the She Cranes encountered tough competition but ended the day on a high note with a well-earned victory.
In their first match, Uganda came up against world number one, Australia. Despite their best efforts and resilient defense, the She Cranes fell short, with Australia securing a 44-37 win.
Uganda’s defense worked hard to disrupt Australia’s quick feeds into the circle, but the Diamonds’ speed and shooting accuracy ultimately proved too much to handle.
Next, Uganda faced the host nation, New Zealand, ranked third in the world. The Silver Ferns capitalized on their home-court advantage, dominating play with strong interceptions and defensive rebounds. The She Cranes fought hard with solid midcourt rotations and effective shooting, but New Zealand maintained control, winning 40-27.
However, Uganda bounced back in their third match, facing world number two, England. In a much-improved performance, the She Cranes found their rhythm, executing more fluid attacking moves.
Their defense tightened up, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on intercepts, ultimately outplaying England to secure a 31-22 victory.
As the sixth-ranked team in the world, Uganda entered the Fast5 Series as the lowest-seeded side, but their impressive performance against England showed their potential to compete with the elite teams.
This is only their second appearance at the Fast5 World Netball Series, and they’ve already demonstrated significant growth and resilience.
Looking ahead to Sunday, November 10th, the She Cranes will face South Africa and Jamaica, ranked fifth and fourth, respectively.
With their confidence boosted by the win over England, Uganda is ready to leverage power plays and long-range scoring opportunities as they continue to challenge the world’s best teams.
