Ranking

Ranking

Results & Schedule

Chinese Taipei again asserted their dominance in this match, putting on an exhibition for their fans in the stands to blitz Poland from the start, scoring 12 in the first seven minutes before Poland made any impression on the scoreboard. Essentially an exhibition match after that, coaches Maciej Żak and Fang-Yi Hsieh made extensive use of their respective benches at half time to rotate, without appreciably altering the host team’s scoring momentum. Almost all Chinese Taipei players found the korf, with a reasonably even spread of goals on this occasion, though tending more towards their female players: Shu-ping Chu and Shu-chi Chang equal top scoring with five each for a result of 31-7 in favour of Chinese Taipei.

Although the form in the first two matches of world ranked number 13 New Zealand suggested they might challenge Portugal, the sixth ranked Portuguese soon put a stop to such an idea. Comprehensively dominating their opponent in the rebound, firing repeated shots to build a comfortable half time lead, they then rested several key players to cruise through the second half. For Portugal Pedro Correia was virtually untouchable in the rebound, while Catarina Gomes showed her hot hands with five goals, mostly from distance. Portugal the victory by 20-7.

One team in this game was bound to lose its unbeaten WKC 2023 record, and with the concourses fall of local school children, the host had the extra benefit of noisy, excited crowd support. During the first quarter the two rivals went toe to toe, before Chinese Taipei gained an extra measure of confidence, scoring more freely in the second quarter, unusually at this tournament, mainly through their male players. While the third quarter was again even, Chinese Taipei held their lead. Determined Portugal put up a momentous fightback in the final quarter, stepping up their defensive intensity to come within two and almost spoil the party for the host, Luise Costa their focal point. However, in the end, the clock was not Portugal’s friend, and the match finished before they could catch their rival, with final score of 24-22 to Chinese Taipei.

In a match where the 12th and 13th ranked teams met, a close contest was to be expected. Both teams held narrow leads at various points in the first half. Tamara Siemieniuk and Torsten Ball each leading their respective teams at opposite ends of the pitch, though defensive intensity, and low risk interceptions from Poland, and New Zealand’s failure to capitalise on several free passes, kept the score low. In the second half, while Poland maintained focus, New Zealand dropped their energy level, which was reflected in the score. By the end Poland was comfortably ahead, and able to withdraw several of their more effective players, holding them back for the challenges ahead. Final score: 19-10 to Poland.