15 Feb 2010

Australia start UK netball tour in style

5:45 am on 15 February 2010

The Australian netball team have started their UK tour in dominant fashion, thrashing Scotland 78-22.

The Diamonds mid-courter Renae Hallinan was voted player of the match while Natalie Medhurst scored 20 goals from 21 attempts shooting at 95 per cent and Caitlin Bassett shot 32 of 36 for 89 per cent.

Both scorers played one half each, as did Kate Beveridge (15 from 21) and Susan Pratley (11 from 17), as coach Norma Plummer gave everyone in her youthful squad a run.

Captain Natalie von Bertouch missed the match after spending the night in hospital as a precaution for a stomach upset but Plummer expected her to be fit for Tuesday's second Test against Scotland.

The Australians play a three-match series against England starting on February the 19th.