NZ Cup hopes suffer second
Series win looking unlikely after Ferns lose both home games in four-test competition
What appeared the most open Constellation Cup series in years has been quickly slammed shut by Australia. Under huge pressure coming into four-test series after handing over their Quad Series crown to the Silver Ferns last month, the Diamonds yesterday restored further confidence in their programme with a healthy eightgoal win over the Kiwi side to take a 2-0 lead. national coach — with back-to-back wins in Melbourne and Perth.
But there will need to be major improvements across the court from Janine Southby’s side if they’re a chance of rescuing the series.
As was the case in Thursday night’s opening 57-54 loss, the Australian defence, led by the tenacious Gabi Simpson in the midcourt and athletic goal keep Courtney Bruce, exposed some brittle links in some of the newly-formed Ferns’ attacking combinations.
When placed under pressure, the New Zealand side committed some fairly soft turnovers, with their option-taking around the attacking third particularly suspect.
Southby said after showing strong improvement at training in the tight two-day turnaround between tests, she was disappointed to see the Ferns’ attacking game fall apart.
“I think at times we got a bit narrow in our vision, didn’t quite watch what else was happening or see the best option at the time,” she said.
“You’ve got to be able to do your own job under pressure first and foremost and I think at times, we were a little bit guilty of not doing what we needed to do for the other people around us when we had the ball.”
Southby’s side had a dream start to the match, as the Diamonds handed them a four-goal headstart after a flurry of unforced errors — including turnovers off their first two possessions. The Ferns showed good patience to break up the suffocating Australian defence and convert their early opportunities, but their composure deserted them as the quarter wore on.
Trailing 14-11 at the first break, the Ferns were in chase mode by midway through the second quarter as Australia pounced on a couple of miscommunications on attack from the home side to stretch their lead out to seven goals.
After working hard to get themselves back into the contest and restore the three-goal margin at halftime, the New Zealand side again dropped the ball early in the third quarter, leaving Southby to rue the costly lapses.
“It’s a big concern. We don’t want to be in those positions, we want to be on the other side of the scoreboard and we had opportunities to do that,