Ferns under the pump
Taurua’s team improve after midcourt rejigged but can’t make up early deficit
Giving up an eight-goal first quarter buffer did the damage as the Silver Ferns lost 53-50 to Australia yesterday despite vast improvements in a spirited comeback after changes to the muddled midcourt in the second quarter.
Thus Laura Langman’s 150th test, the first to reach the milestone for the Ferns, went blemished. Such a leader and competitor deserved more.
Her side played this morning against South Africa, who yesterday tore up the script to stun Quad Series hosts England 48-45.
“I always think sometimes milestones give you the hoodoos but, never mind,” Langman said.
“I just love game day. I feel really lucky to have been given a second chance. There’s not many people that get to be in my position.
“[Australia] are a champion side and I thought the speed caught us unawares, so we probably need to switch in and adjust a little bit — it’s just those game smarts where we are probably found wanting.”
The heart and composure Langman praised about the comeback came directly from her switch to centre, in place of Sam Sinclair, and the introduction of Karin Burger at wing defence.
It proved a telling change as the Ferns applied pressure from then on to turn the tide and comfortably win the third and fourth quarters.
Burger grabbed her chance with tight marking and one turnover, while Langman sparked attacking drives which allowed the shooters to again perform strongly.
All a bit belatedly, of course. “The strength of our squad is the flexibility to play multiple positions,” Langman said, emphasising this group was united and connected in the face of repeat losses. “We are preparing for the big picture in July and those teams that have adaptable players give you a little bit more leverage in a tournament style.
“We were able to go to that option [against Australia]. Any other day, it might not have worked and we might have to go to another one but it was cool to get a run in the middle.”
Outwardly, Noeline Taurua remains positive but so, too, are frustrations evident after two wins from nine to start her tenure as Silver Ferns coach.
“That first quarter was damaging for us,” Taurua said. “I thought we had enough ball in hand but coughed it up. It’s been a consistent thing we’re not quite nailing. It seems like every first quarter or every ball in each quarter, we aren’t able to do our job.
“Overall, we’re still far away from Australia and England, if we’re going to be honest. There’s pleasing stuff when we’re still far behind.”
Meltdowns aside, Casey Kopua is fast finding her feet after three years out of the test arena and beginning to gel with Jane Watson, the pair pulling off two successful hoists to disrupt the Australian shooters.
At the other end of the court, Ameliaranne Ekenasio (20/22 in her best outing for the Ferns) and Maria Folau (30-37) continue to form a promising partnership.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand midcourt struggles.
“There’s been a consistent message about our shooters not being able to put the ball through the hoop, so I’m really happy with that combination,” said Taurua.
“We were the most consistent we have ever been. We were intense, we had a great attitude and we were able to get the ball from one end of the court down to the other.”
Overall, we’re still far away from Australia and England, if we’re going to be honest.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua
Australia 53 Silver Ferns 50
Laura Langman’s milestone test could not inspire the Silver Ferns as they dropped successive matches in the northern Quad Series yesterday.
But for a horror first quarter at London’s Copper Box Arena, Langman may well have celebrated becoming the first to play 150 tests for New Zealand.
Unfortunately for the veteran midcourter and now captain, frequent mental lapses handed her side a frustrating 53-50 loss to Australia, their 11th in the past 12 against the world champion Diamonds.
Oh, what might have been for the Ferns, who played South Africa this morning.
Australia were missing star shooter and captain Caitlin Bassett, who broke her forearm in training, and wing defence Gabi Simpson due to a leg injury, and still the Ferns could not take advantage.
To their credit, the Ferns, enjoying strong support from the locals, showed character to rally from a poor start which had them eight goals behind.
They played particularly well in the second half, winning the third and final quarters, but until consistent brain fades that throw away whole periods are rectified, they will never regularly beat the world’s best, England and Australia.
Last week in Liverpool, the third quarter cost the Ferns in their 13-goal opening loss to England. This time, it was an abysmal start.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua, who has now won two of her nine games in charge, opted for one starting change, promoting Gina Crampton to wing attack over Whitney Souness but keeping faith in Sam Sinclair at centre and leaving Laura Langman at wing defence.
For whatever reason, the Ferns were half asleep in the opening quarter. At times, they looked shellshocked. It took almost four minutes to register their first goal. That Ameliaranne Ekenasio landed her first in the final minute of the quarter reflects just how difficult the Ferns found penetrating the typically tight, physical Australian marking.
Sinclair again struggled, and the Ferns could not stem the tide of fast ball through court.
For Australia, initially at least, it was all too easy. Defenders Casey Kopua and Jane Watson combined for two successful hoists but the ball just kept coming.
Once again, the Ferns midcourt proved problematic. They are clearly missing Kayla Cullen’s presence — the star defender making her way back from injury — but more should still be expected.
Seeking change, Taurua rejigged her midcourt for the second quarter and stuck with this seven for the rest of the game. Pulse defender Karin Burger came in to wing defence, moving Langman to her preferred centre role and Sinclair to the bench.
The changes worked, Langman flourishing and Burger making a strong fist of the position. Her aggressive approach closed down space and she nabbed one intercept to help spark the vastly improved Ferns to regain poise and close the gap somewhat at halftime.
Shooters Ekenasio (20/22) and Maria Folau (30/37), now enjoying much more quality ball, regularly hit the mark as the Ferns stormed out of the break to get within three.
The impressive defensive end — Watson and Kopua — pressured Australian coach Lisa Alexander into pulling shooter Steph Wood but the Ferns could not maintain the momentum.
Chasing a six-goal deficit in the final quarter, the Ferns closed within two in what was a spirited effort that offered promise for what may come.
Ultimately, though, the opening deficit proved too much to run down.
While an improvement, chalk up another defeat.