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• Trinidadian netball star Samantha Wallace-Joseph released by NSW Swifts amid controversy

  In a not-so surprising turn of events, Trinidadian netball sensation Samantha Wallace-Joseph has been released by the New South Wales Swifts, by mutual agreement, mere months after returning from a two-year hiatus due to knee surgery. The Suncorp Super League franchise announced the departure on Thursday, citing issues related to her behavior within the team environment.

  Wallace-Joseph, a pivotal player for the Swifts, had missed multiple games recently, contributing to the team’s three-game losing streak. The Swifts, last year’s grand finalists, now find themselves in a three-way tie for fifth place on the ladder, a position far below their usual standards.

  The Swifts confirmed the split in a statement, explaining that it was a mutual decision made after weeks of discussions with Wallace-Joseph and her management.

   "For the past number of weeks, the club has been working with Samantha Wallace-Joseph and her management in relation to a matter which concerned her behaviour within the team environment,” the statement read. “For the wellbeing of all concerned the nature of the matter will remain confidential. However, it has been mutually agreed that parting ways is the best way forward for both Samantha and the club.”

  This development comes after the Swifts had previously shown unwavering support for Wallace-Joseph during her recovery from a serious knee injury. Her comeback, however, was overshadowed by controversy following anti-transgender comments she made on social media, which stirred significant public backlash.

  The Swifts emphasized the importance of maintaining high behavioral standards within their team, stating, “The behavioural standard expected of everyone in the Swifts environment – across players, coaches and staff – is team first and there are no exceptions to that.”

  Wallace-Joseph, who joined the Swifts in 2017, has been a key figure in the team’s success, playing 84 games and securing Premierships in 2019 and 2021. Despite her departure under strained circumstances, the Swifts expressed their gratitude for her contributions, saying, “The Swifts thank Samantha for her service to the Club.”

  As the netball community processes this shocking news, the Swifts have made it clear that they will not be making any further comments on the matter at this time.

  Wallace-Joseph's departure marks a significant chapter in her career, and her next steps will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. Meanwhile, the Swifts will need to regroup quickly as they aim to recover from their current slump and return to their winning ways.

   

   

• St Kitts, Guyana, Puerto Rico, Dom Rep secure first WCQ victories

  St Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic registered a maiden win in their respective Concacaf World Cup Qualifying campaign, as they brought the curtains down on second round action, on Tuesday.

  Five players scored twice for their respective teams, including Guyana’s Deon Moore, Dominican Republic’s Rafael Mata and Dorny Romero, and Puerto Rico’s Jeremy de Leon and Wilfredo Rivera.

  St Lucia vs Aruba

  St Lucia and Aruba were the only teams that failed to separate themselves, as they played out a 2-2 scoreline in Group C at Wildey Turf in Bridgetown, Barbados.

  Aruba got the perfect start they desired, when Walter Bennett headed home from close range to gift them a 22nd-minute lead, before Isai Marselia added a second from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute.

  However, Ridel Stanislas (45+2) cut the deficit for St Lucia with a tidy finish from deep inside the 18-yard box, to make it 2-1 at the break.

  Peter Pearson then pulled St Lucia level in the 66th minute to secure a share of the spoils.

  With this, their first point of the campaign, St Lucia and Aruba occupy third and fourth positions in the group behind Curaçao and Haiti, on six points each, heading into the break.

  St Kitts and Nevis vs Bahamas

  St Kitts and Nevis edged Bahamas, 1-0, in Group B at Warner Park in Basseterre.

  Ethan Bristow found the all-important goal in the 12th minute when he pounced on a rebound.

  With the win, The Sugar Boyz inched up to third in the group, behind Costa Rica (six points) and Trinidad and Tobago (four points).

  Guyana vs Belize

  Guyana proved too strong for Belize with a 3-1 victory in Group D action at Wildey Turf in Bridgetown, Barbados.

  After playing out a goalless first half, Deon Moore finished off an Omari Glasgow pass in the 66th minute to put Guyana ahead.

  The Golden Jaguars doubled the lead a minute later courtesy of Liam Gordon’s dazzling solo effort which he finished off with a close range effort.

  Moore completed his brace in the 71st with a flick of the ball inside the box to redirect Nathan Moriah-Welsh’s pass.

  However, Carlos Bernardez pulled one back for Belize in the 88th, as he rose above defenders to head home Jahryl Smith’s weighted cross.

  The win moved the Golden Jaguars up to third place in the group, behind Nicaragua and Panama, on six points each.

  

  Puerto Rico players celebrate a goal.

  Dominican Republic vs British Virgin Islands

  Dominican Republic bounced back from their defeat to Jamaica, as the blanked British Virgin Islands 4-0 in Group E at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristobal.

  In a frantic start to the contest, Rafael Mata finished with aplomb in the second minute to give the host a perfect start.

  Dorny Romero converted a penalty in the 14th to make it 2-0, before Mata struck again in the 31st with a delightful shot from a distance to put the game beyond British Virgin Islands reach.

  But, Dominican Republic were not done yet, and Romero also completed his brace with a tidy finish in the 90+3.

  Despite the win, Dominican Republic remained third place in the group, behind Guatemala and Jamaica, on six points each.

  Puerto Rico vs Anguilla

  Puerto Rico registered the widest victory margin on the day, as they mauled Anguilla 8-0 in a lopsided Group F encounter, at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon.

  Jeremy de Leon put the host in from with a 21st-minute penalty conversion, and Roberto Ydrach (31st) doubled the lead 10 minutes later with a shot from a distance.

  Anguilla had an opportunity to pull one back from the penalty spot but Joel Serrano, in goal for Puerto Rico, came up big to deny the 36th minute effort.

  From there, it was all Puerto Rico, as Wilfredo Rivera rifled from the top of the 18-yard box in the 48th, before de Leon, with some nippy footwork, added his second with an easy finish in the 51st.

  Leandro Antonetti added his name to the scoresheet in the 58th, while Rivera pounced on a loose ball and fired home in the 65th.

  Dominican Republic’s seventh came courtesy of Darren Rios’s 71st –minute header, and Nicolas Cardona capped the win in the 90th.

  With the win, Puerto Rico moved to second place on four points, behind leaders Suriname on six points.

• Uncertain future: T&T's Wallace-Joseph facing possible termination from NSW Swifts

  After sitting out the past two Suncorp Super Netball League matches, Samantha Wallace-Joseph’s future with New South Wales Swifts seems up in the air, as the club remains evasive about her omission from the match-day squad.

  Though speculations were rife that the Trinidad and Tobago stalwart’s cut was due to anti-transgender social media post earlier this year, the club –while distancing itself from the post –confirmed that the current issue was unrelated. Wallace-Joseph did apologise for the post which she said was taken out of context.

  NSW Swifts, in a recent statement, confirmed that Wallace-Joseph “would be unavailable for selection,” as they dealt with a matter relating to behaviour within the team environment. The club also stated that it was working with Wallace-Joseph and her management team.

  However, indications are that the negotiations could be headed towards Wallace-Joseph’s termination or a mutual parting of ways, which is unprecedented in netball.

  Wallace-Joseph's role in the team has been a focal point of discussion given the fact that the now 30-year-old goal shooter has been a beloved member of the team since her signing in 2017. Since joining the club, the Trinidadian assisted the Swifts to two Super Netball titles, and was named club MVP on three occasions.

  Wallace-Joseph, who only returned to action this season after recovering from a career-threatening anterior cruciate ligament injury that sidelined her for the past two seasons, tallied over 138 goals, 289 Nissan Net Points, four deflections, one intercept and seven rebounds in the seven games she played before being dropped.