Souness pushes selection case

At a glance

Whitney Souness has put her hand up for the Silver Ferns’ starting centre bib at the Commonwealth Games with a memorable showing.

The Central Pulse midcourter, who mainly plays wing attack, shone in the middle for the Ferns as they launched their Commonwealth Games warm-up tournament with a 67-48 win over New Zealand A on Wednesday.

Souness is one of the fittest players in New Zealand netball and impressed at the national trials, earning her a ticket to the Games.

She could loom as the Ferns’ top option at centre in Birmingham with Kate Heffernan and Shannon Saunders also in contention.

At Pulman Arena, Auckland:

Silver Ferns 67 (Maia Wilson 18/19, Bailey Mes 12/19, Grace Nweke 26/34, Te Paea Selby-Rickit 11/14) New Zealand A 48 (Ameliaranne Ekenasio 25/28, Tiana Metuarau 22/23, Jamie Hume 1/3).

New Zealand Men 47 (Jay Geldard 23/28, Cam Powell 9/11, Ben Smith 6/11, Daniel Jefferies 9/10) Mixed Invitational 39 (Quintin Gerber 28/34, Georgia Heffernan 2/6, Grace Namana 5/6, Amosa Faitaua-Nanai 4/4).

■ For coverage of last night’s games, go to stuff.co.nz

Fourteen-test Fern Souness, has never been a regular in the starting seven since debuting in 2017. She led the way in her three quarters on court though, sending in 16 goal assists – the most in the team, and drove the attacking end.

Goal keep Kelly Jury picked up where she left off in the ANZ Premiership, where she was the best player in the competition for the title-winning Pulse, with another dominant display.

It was far from a perfect hit-out from the Ferns 16 days out from their first match at the Games against Northern Ireland.

After a sloppy first half, where they converted only 79% of their attempts, they pulled away in the second half. The Ferns won the second half 37-21 with their class shining through.

In the earlier game, the New Zealand men opened with a 47-39 win over the Mixed Invitational side, featuring unwanted Ferns midcourter Maddy Gordon and former Ferns defender Leana de Bruin.