Ferns end year with Fast5 title
New Zealand have ended one of their worst netball years on a triumphant note.
The Fast5 Ferns bounced back from their one-goal loss to Jamaica earlier in the day, overcoming the Sunshine Girls 34-33 in a thrilling Fast5 Netball World Series final in Melbourne on Sunday night.
Jamaica stormed home in their power play final quarter, where goals scored are doubled, but the Ferns clung on.
It continued New Zealand’s fantastic record in Fast5, winning seven of the nine titles since netball’s shortened version was first contested in 2009.
Not much has gone right for New Zealand netball in 2018 with the Silver Ferns finishing fourth at April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and also struggling in the Quad Series and Constellation Cup against Australia.
While it’s not traditional seven-a-side netball, the Fast5 Ferns deserved the silverware and were the most consistent side at the six-team tournament, winning five of their six matches.
The Fast5 Ferns took a 28-19 lead into the final quarter, but with Jamaica’s power play to come in the final term, a ninepoint lead wasn’t safe.
Shanice Beckford landed a crunch goal for Jamaica from the three-point zone, which doubled to six points, to cut the Ferns’ lead 32-29 with three minutes to play.
From there, Jamaica were happy to get close to the goal, knowing a simple conversion would accumulate two points.
Karin Burger sealed the silverware for the Kiwis with a decisive intercept in the closing stages, which halted Jamaica’s momentum. Burger was among the Ferns’ best performed players at the tournament, along with centre Kimiora Poi, who has put her hand up for a Silver Ferns December training camp squad spot.
Shooters Bailey Mes and Ameliaranne Ekenasio also stood out at various stages over the weekend and could be in Noeline Taurua’s thinking as she looks to grow depth and create competition for spots at the training camp.
Australia took bronze, overcoming Malawi 38-15, with England fifth, after beating South Africa 35-33.