Ferns silence home crowd
Squad shuffling shelved as New Zealand keep their best seven players on the court
New Zealand saved their best until last to clinch the bronze medal when delivering a clinical 55-48 win over England in the Commonwealth Games netball tournament in Birmingham.
An improved start had New Zealand in the game from the get-go as the relatively youthful team managed to reverse a 10-goal loss to the same opponents in pool play. For the first time, New Zealand retained an unchanged line-up from start to finish, growing in confidence and prowess as the match progressed, ending the hopes of the more highly fancied England.
“That was massive. It’s been a really good experience for this team and the opportunity to see what it takes to be a top-four team,” New Zealand coach Dame Noeline Taurua said.
“Our ball retention, our ability to take them on, in both attack and defence, a low error rate, everybody doing their jobs, and ability to execute — we did that well today.
“It was our mindset and our killer instinct that worked well today and I couldn’t be prouder of the players and what they did out there.”
Tall timber featured at both ends of the court in New Zealand’s starting line-up with shooter Grace Nweke taking up residence under the hoop and the rangy Kelly Jury donning the goalkeeper’s bib where she was partnered by Phoenix Karaka.
England fronted with a proven and experienced line-up, spearheaded by goalkeeper Geva Mentor, attending her sixth Commonwealth Games while celebrating her 160th test cap in the process.
There was no hangover from disappointing semifinal losses for the bronze medal contenders, each making slick and efficient starts with neither giving the other opportunity to gain the ascendancy.
For New Zealand, it was easily their best start against top company during the tournament, with Te Paea Selbyrickit, Gina Crampton and Whitney Souness getting the ball into Nweke’s hands with proficient regularity.
Nweke didn’t miss a beat. She was well-matched by her opposite Eleanor Cardwell under the England hoop, who also shot with great accuracy.
In a tight and close opening, it was New Zealand who nosed to a slim 14-13 lead at the first break.
It was a similar pattern on the resumption, both teams impressing with their shooting accuracy as the nip and tuck continued. Wing defence Kate Heffernan, in just her sixth test, continued to make great strides in her young career, a momentumchanging intercept catapulting New Zealand into a mini-run.
The contest continued to be gripping, the large and boisterous home crowd willing England along but New Zealand held their nerve as emotions ran hot at times. Jury caused plenty
of disruption in the England shooting circle, a run of five straight goals pushing the New Zealanders out to a 29-23 lead at the main break.
Making changes to their midcourt, with Laura Malcolm moving into centre, and Imogen Allison coming off the bench to wing defence and goal defence Stacey Francis-bayman, playing as if her life depended on it, in her final match before retirement, England threw everything they could muster at New Zealand.
On a knife edge, the enthralling contest continued unabated through a drawn third stanza, both teams had their moments but with their anchors at both ends, in the form of Nweke, who overshadowed her more illustrious opponent, Mentor, and Jury tormenting the England shooters, New Zealand didn’t flinch.
The clever play of Selby-rickit, acting as an extra feeder, combined with an efficient and industrious midcourt ensured New Zealand retained some breathing space when they took a 41-35 lead into the last turn. — Supplied content