Netball World Cup

The Fiji Pearls were beaten 59-52 by Wales in the first game of the tournament.

Fiji had led by three goals after the opening period, and actually won three of the four quarters, but a horror second term saw them nine goals behind at half-time, a gap they were unable to close.

Taraima Mitchell was impressive under the hoop, landing all 35 of her attempts at goal.

Next up for the Pacific champions is Uganda this afternoon.

Samoa were outclassed 90-44 by Jamaica first-up and have their best shot at victory in the pool stage tonight against Scotland.

The team arrive in Sydney next week for the Netball World Cup where they'll meet Jamaica in their first pool match.

The coach Marcia Hardcastle says when she started at the helm in 2012, Samoa had five homegrown players - now they have none.

She says there are obstacles in getting players from around Australia and New Zealand together and well prepared.

"Because we still have overseas players and players within New Zealand, it is very difficult and with the lack of funding they have as a country itself for netball, that is difficult to get them in once place."