___________________

Vitality Netball Nations Cup 

New Zealand 65 Uganda 60

England 59 Australia 61

The She Cranes lost their second match in the Vitality Netball Nations Cup at the OVO Arena in Wembley but they still left an impression on the teams they faced.

In their second game, they took on New Zealand, the Silver Ferns who like Uganda were looking for their first win in the competition. Coach Fred Mugerwa made two changes to his starting seven by introducing Sarah Nakiyunga and Sandra Nambirige to the team after they didn’t start the last time.

That move proved very good as the She Cranes made the Silver Ferns very uncomfortable. Uganda was able to go toe to toe with them in the important parts of the match and kept a handy lead until the third quarter when the going got tough.

Coach Fred Mugerwa brought in Lillian Achola who couldn’t keep up the pressure Nakiyunga built up so captain Eyaru was sent to wing attack and Shadia Nassanga was given some decent minutes in the grand scheme of things.

The midcourt was too crowded for the team to cut through with the patient play which was how they ended up suffering in the long run.

“I think our ball patience was really good. In the first and second quarter, we were really patient with the ball and we had that breakthrough. In the third and fourth quarter options were shut down and we had one middle that was breaking through and I think that drew a lot of defenders. We also didn’t challenge a lot in the circle,” explained Mary Nuba following the game.

Hosts England also lost to world number one Australia in the second match of the tournament. With that victory, Australia secured a place in the Championship final.

With that loss, all attention will turn to Leeds where the team is expected to travel from London.

It is a match that shows the growth of Uganda from the naïve nation that played in the 2015 World Cup to a team that has become a show of growth and resilience.