A Final Flourish But Fiji's Netballers Finish A Bit Below Parr

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday November 17, 2007

By LUKE KEENAN

FIGTREE'S Marji Parr and her Fijian team-mates ended their World Championships campaign on a high in Auckland yesterday.

Parr and co thrashed Botswana 65-20 to clinch ninth spot at the tournament where they held high hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Fiji blew their opponents off the court in the opening quarter - at one point they actually led 17-1.

That lead was extended to 43-7 by half-time and 62-12 heading into the final period.

Goal defence Parr also played at the last world titles in Jamaica four years ago, when Fiji made the quarter-finals, finishing eighth.

A 42-36 loss to Cook Islands on Tuesday denied the Fijians a place in the quarters this time around.

But they regrouped to beat Scotland 58-37 the following day, with the athletic Parr causing major problems for the Scottish shooters.

A 68-36 victory over Wales on Thursday then set up the showdown with Botswana for ninth place.