Ferns improve in win
Better start, more turnovers achieved against England
WELLINGTON: New Zealand achieved two of its primary goals in a comprehensive 6137 win over England in their Quad Series test in Liverpool.
The Silver Ferns defence was too staunch for the host, which fell seven goals behind in the first six minutes and rarely looked like closing the gap.
It leaves both teams with a win and a loss with one round remaining in the travelheavy tournament.
New Zealand improved hugely on its opening 5750 loss to unbeaten Australia in Durban.
Coach Janine Southby had identified two areas to improve — making a superior start and completing more turnovers.
Her side responded by powering 81 clear through English errors and some early long bombs from goal attack Maria Tutaia (33 from 37).
A brief England flurry reduced the firstquarter deficit to 1613 but seven successive goals early in the second stanza effectively made the game safe.
Southby started veteran Anna Harrison at wing defence ahead of Sam Sinclair, who made her debut in Durban.
The move worked, as Harrison worked in tandem with her midcourt and the defensive circle.
Goal keep Jane Watson was named player of the match, helping force 37 turnovers from the English compared with New Zealand’s 21.
New Zealand was 3119 clear at halftime, with the only hiccup being a back injury which forced goal shoot Bailey Mes (8/8) from the court, replaced by the impressive Te Paea SelbyRickit (20/21).
Gina Crampton was introduced for wing attack Grace Rasmussen at halftime before lanky 20yearold Kelly Jury was given her test debut. Jury played the last seven minutes at goal keep as New Zealand dominated the final quarter 197.
Southby pronounced herself ‘‘reasonably pleased’’, believing her players were guilty of unnecessary lapses.
‘‘We had poor execution at times but generally I thought the intensity and the ball speed we played with on attack was pretty good,’’ she said.
‘‘On defence, everyone put their heart and soul into it and we created the gains that we couldn’t get against Australia.’’
England counterpart Tracey Neville said the test exposed her world No 3 ranked team’s inferior fitness levels and, worryingly, a lack of fight.
‘‘What disappoints here is that casualness. I said ‘you are being beaten here technically’ and that’s what disappoints as a coach. We just couldn’t get it together.’’
New Zealand’s final test is in London on Sunday against a South African side that lost 6055 to England in extra time and went down 6246 to Australia.
England must upset Australia in the other game to give the Silver Ferns any chance of denying the Diamonds a successful defence of their title. — NZN