Ferns slide to another record defeat
ONCE again, it was not nearly good enough from the Silver Ferns yesterday.
Their quest to turn the page in 2019 displayed early signs of promise. At this level, though, meritorious ultimately counts for little.
For the first half of this match at least, the Ferns went toetotoe with England in Liverpool to open the northern Quad Series.
As the contest wore on, though, the experienced home team comfortably pulled away; its dominant 5441 victory confirming its favouritism to claim this tournament for the first time.
The scores
Noeline Taurua used all 12 squad members and handed test debuts to defender Erena Mikaere, who replaced Jane Watson in the third quarter, and 21yearold midcourter Kimiora Poi, injected just before half time.
But having set a target of two wins from three in this series, which comes six months before the Netball World Cup at this same venue, much work remains for Taurua over the next six days before facing Australia in London.
That is now a mustwin scenario to suggest genuine progress is being made.
As it stands, this result equalled New Zealand’s worst defeat by England — Taurua’s first match at the helm in Auckland last September.
One win from the last six tests is poor by anyone’s standards.
But, like anything, context is important.
England has now won the four straight matches against the Ferns and six of the past nine. It is also, of course, the Commonwealth Games champion, having stunned Australia on the Gold Coast last year.
And in front of a boisterous home crowd, it started with intent to prove that result was no fluke.
The Ferns, by comparison began poorly, conceding the first three goals.
The experienced Serena Guthrie owned the midcourt, giving Sam Sinclair, starting at centre, a difficult time.
The Ferns regrouped to establish attacking fluidity but England did enough to hold a 1312 first quarter advantage.
The return of former skipper Casey Kopua in her first inter national since 2015, after coming out of retirement, brought rewards in combination with Watson.
England’s reunited shooting duo, Helen Housby and Jo Harten, are one of the best in the world yet the Ferns pair forced England back; applied pressure and extracted several errors.
With Laura Langman driving through court from wing defence, Ameliaranne Ekenasio punching out of the circle and Whitney Souness looping around, the Ferns attack showed patience but frustrating, erratic moments and indecision were still too evident.
Too often, Sinclair proved the weak link and she was taken off court just before half time and replaced by Poi.
At halftime, England maintained its onegoal lead.
Thereafter it seemed every time the Ferns threatened individual errors or missed connections prevailed. The final quarter but one example; defender Karin Burger binned for aggressive contact.
The third quarter also proved costly as the Ferns slipped 10 goals behind.
The shooting end, Maria Folau (32/29) and Ekenasio (12/13), produced high percentages but did not receive enough quality ball.
Plenty, then, for Taurua to ponder.
In the other of this doubleheader, Australia got off to a shaky start and its 6245 win over South Africa was flattering.
Australian coach Lisa Alexander’s initial experimental lineup was exposed early as Norma Plummer’s South Africa applied pressure and took a surprise fivegoal lead at the first quarter mark.
That forced Alexander to inject her more experienced figures, allowing Australia to gradually pull away.
South Africa will take heart, though as the performance was a vast improvement on the 24goal defeat the last time these teams met.
For Australia, Bassett’s absence was obvious and South Africa shooter Lenize Potgieter had ample room to move for much of the match. — NZME