England just short of record

Netball

England went close to achieving a record score in their third successive victory in the World Championships in Birmingham yesterday.

The hosts, who beat Singapore 95-21, looked well on course to better the competition best of 114-23, set when Jamaica beat Vanuatu in Sydney four years ago. They scored roughly every 30 seconds during the first three quarters, but the record chase tailed off as their opponents started to string some passes together.

South Africa, appearing in their first World Championship since 1967, had earlier fallen just four nets short of matching the record as they trounced Cayman Islands 110-22. Star of the show was 6ft 4in goal-shooter Irene Van Dyck who scored 90 goals - almost certainly an individual scoring record for the event.

The Scotland coach, Anne Marie Daly, meanwhile, had been reduced to tears following her side's 54-43 defeat by Canada on the third day of the tournament. After being drawn in the same group as the talented Trinidadians, the Scots knew they had to win this game yesterday if they were to progress.

Scotland were in control in the first half and led 23-21, but fell away in the final quarter as their passes went astray. Wales also lost, 69- 33, to Western Samoa while the Republic of Ireland were trounced 95-29 by Cook Islands.