England’s Roses took a 1-0 lead in their three-match Vitality ROses Reunited Test series against Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls after they rallied to win 55-45 before a packed Copper Box Arena in London on Sunday (November 28).

Jamaica lost despite a game-high 40 goals from Jhaniele Fowler, who only missed one attempt during the match that was marked by turnovers in the second half. Meanwhile, Jo Harten scored 30 of 39 and Eleanor Cardwell 20 of 22 for the Roses.

Having won four of their last five encounters against England, the Sunshine Girls began confidently, outscoring their opponents 11-10 at the end of the first quarter. They would hold that lead, winning the second quarter 16-15 to take that lead into the break.

Jamaica owed its lead not only to Fowler’s near-perfect shooting but also to the defensive intensity of Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Shamera Sterling, who terrorised England’s shooters throughout the first half.

However, England would come out an improved team for the second half.

Improvements at both ends of the court saw them blow the game open in the third quarter when they outscored Jamaica 16-9. Harten and Cardwell improved their accuracy while Eboni Usoro-Brown, who was playing her first game since she gave birth, kept Jhaniele Fowler quiet.

The increased intensity from England forced Jamaica into making many turnovers from which they capitalised. England secured their victory outscoring Jamaica 14-10 in the fourth to pull off a commanding victory.

The second and third Tests will be played on December 4 and 5 at the Motor Point Arena in Nottingham.