MADISON SPEDDING
The official pools and competition schedule for the preliminary rounds of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Netball competition are now confirmed, following a draw ceremony held at Surfers Paradise Esplanade.
Overseen and Sanctioned by the International Netball Federation (INF) Technical Delegate, Lindy Murphy and the INF’s Director of Asia, Gaby Hochbaum.
The drawing of pools saw the bottom six ranked teams randomly drawn into the two pools which solidified the competition schedule for the preliminary round robin stage of the Netball Competition.
The bottom six ranked nations joined the top six nations who were placed into the pools in a snaking pattern, according to the INF World Ranking list as of 1 July 2017.
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Ambassador, World Champion and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Laura Geitz was at Surfers Paradise to promote the announcement.
“It’s so exciting to know what nations we will be taking on during the preliminary competition,” she said.
“There is going to be some tough competition during the preliminary rounds with the likes of Jamaica.
“They have the ability to step up in the in big matches and they have Romelda Aiken, they’ve got Jhaniele Fowler-Reid who are just six foot seven powerhouses.”
Along with Jamaica, Australia will also play South Africa, Barbados, Fiji and Northern Ireland in Pool A.
Whilst New Zealand faces some tough competition in Pool B with the likes of England, Malawi, Wales, Scotland and Commonwealth Games debutants Uganda.
INF Technical Delegate for the Games, Lindy Murphy tipped it will be Australia and England battling it out for gold in the Commonwealth Games Netball final.
Murphy believes the tournament will produce quality performances and even some upsets, predicting England to top Pool B, with world number four Jamaica to miss finals all together.
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and tip an Australia v England gold medal match, and it will either be South Africa or Malawi that play out against New Zealand for the bronze,” said Murphy.
“There’s going to be some great contests and some terrific rivalries between the European and African teams.
“Watch out for that Malawi versus Uganda match. That is going to be exceptional,” she said.
Each team will play every other team within their pool during the preliminary round matched which will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 5 to April 12, before heading over to the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre on April 14 and 15, 2018 for the finals matches.
You can view a detailed competition schedule below and on the GC2018 official website: www.gc2018.com
