Proteas tangle with Silver Ferns
TOP seeds New Zealand got off to a flying start with wins against England (64-48) and Jamaica (71-45) in the quadrangular Vitality Netball Nations Cup in England, with the Silver Ferns favourites to beat South Africa in their last pool match today.
Host nation England, ranked third in the world, have shown improved form in front of their own supporters since last weekend’s first round defeat by world champions New Zealand, posting an impressive 58-53 score in midweek against the fifth-ranked SPAR Proteas.
New Zealand clash with the Proteas of South Africa at the Copper Box Arena in London today (4.30pm SA time) in the penultimate round of the new and novel Vitality Nations Cup, with the Silver Ferns the hot favourites to top the log and qualify for tomorrow’s final against either the Sunshine Girls from Jamaica or England who will also be in action later today.
These two teams have so far each won one game and lost one in this international quadrangular tournament, England’s Roses having lost 48-64 to New Zealand and beaten the Proteas 58-53, with Jamaica 59-54 winners against South Africa and 45-71 losers to New Zealand.
Australia declined their invitation to participate in this tournament which replaces the Quadrangular Series, citing they are team building, which saw world fifth-ranked Jamaica drafted in.
The Silver Ferns, as the New Zealand team is called, are going to be a hard team to beat following their impressive victories against England and Jamaica, and South Africa will have to keep their unforced errors count, such as intercepted passes, to a minimum if they are to be a match for the super slick Ferns.
The new-look Ferns, without the retired Maria Folau and Casey Kopua, took control from the start against the England Roses, with 22-year-old shooter Maia Wilson slotting efficiently into the side next to new captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio in attack, Phoenix Karaka and Jane Watson solid in defence and Bailey Mes outstanding at goal attack, so that the Ferns posted a 93% shooting accuracy in their game against England.
The last time the Proteas and Ferns played against each other was at the 2019 Quad Series in England which saw the teams requiring extra time before the Proteas lost by two points.
The interest in this new series is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the four teams who are all going through a rebuilding phase following last year’s Vitality Netball World Cup.
The Proteas have Dorette Badenhorst as head coach, with Dumisani Chauke as her assistant. They have been in charge for the last nine games, winning seven of these including winning the African Nations Cup.
New Zealand (2): Bailey Mes, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Gina Crampton, Kimiora Poi, Karin Burger, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Ameliaranne Ekenasio (captain), Maia Wilson, Shannon Saunders, Whitney Souness, Phoenix Karaka, Jane Watson, Samantha Sinclair (reserve).
SPAR South Africa (5): Ine-Mari Venter; Lenize Potgieter; Lefebre Rademan, Sigi Burger, Bongi Msomi (captain)‚ Izette Griesel‚ Rome Dreyer‚ Khanyisa Chawane, Phumza Mawen, Shadine van der Merwe‚ Zanele Vimbela‚ Karla Pretorius.