Ferns find shooting duo
It’s not the result Noeline Taurua wanted, but the Silver Ferns look to have finally found a starting shooting combination for July’s Netball World Cup.
New Zealand were unable to provide captain Laura Langman with the ultimate present for her record-breaking 150th test in the black dress, losing 53-50 to Australia in their Quad Series clash in London yesterday.
Poor accuracy and a lack of cohesion in the shooting end plagued the Ferns in the Quad Series and Constellation Cup late last year, Taurua’s first two events in charge since replacing Janine Southby as coach.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Aliyah Dunn, and Maia Wilson were all tried alongside the established Maria Folau with none able to be a consistent threat alongsideFolau.
Taurua went back to Ekenasio for the Northern Quad Series in England and the Central Pulse goal attack has performed admirably with Folau, giving the Ferns two shooters, who command attention and aren’t afraid to put up the long bombs.
Folau and Ekenasio landed
41/45 as a duo in last Monday’s
54-41 loss to England, then backed up their pleasing play against Australia, converting 50/59 as a combination (85 per cent).
They both carried the workload with Folau slotting
30/37 and Ekenasio also busy with 20/22 and two rebounds.
In the second half, the pair were particularly impressive, landing 31 of their 35 attempts (89 per cent) as the Ferns rallied from a dreadful start, where they trailed 14-6 after the first quarter.
Ekenasio’s play over the past two games (32/35 shooting) will have gone a long way to cementing her ticket to July’s Netball World Cup and a firstchoice starting spot with Folau.
‘‘I was very happy with our shooting end. Once again it’s been a consistent message or a failing I suppose in regards to our [shooting] percentages and it’s probably the best in regards to our unit and our ability to be able handle the pressure,’’ Taurua told Stuff.
‘‘I feel the actual dynamics or the rhythm of both of them is probably coming along quite nicely. I’m very happy with what I’m seeing.’’
The Ferns were left to lament a horrible beginning to the match against an Australian side, missing captain and star goal shoot Caitlin Bassett and outstanding wing defence Gabi Simpson.
They were sluggish to begin the game, lacking punch in the midcourt and committing nine turnovers in the first quarter as Australia roared out of the blocks. To their credit, the Ferns did fight back, winning the second half 31-26 and cutting Australia’s lead to as close as two goals in the final term.
New Zealand’s play through the second, third, and fourth quarters was some of their best netball Taurua had seen from the team since becoming coach.
‘‘It will give us a bit of confidence coming out and that’s always a good thing.
‘‘It’s still too early for us to be hailing ourselves. I thought we gained a lot of momentum. I thought there were so many positives. I thought our attitude and focus was better than it’s been for a very long time.’’
Taurua was impressed with returning defender Casey Kopua, who took a major step forward from the England game, her first match for the Ferns since October 2015.
The Ferns still ended with a loss in the result column though, their seventh in eight meetings with Australia dating back to the start of 2018.
Losing never sits well with the ultra competitive Taurua. She’ll be desperate the Ferns avoid an unwanted upset this morning against South Africa, who stunned Commonwealth Games gold medallists England 48-45 in London yesterday.
A loss to South Africa would leave the Ferns with the ignominy of last place in the Quad Series for the first time since the event was created in 2016.
At a glance
Quarter scores: