Grant: Silver Ferns froze
Silver Ferns skipper Katrina Grant concedes their inability to close out tight contests has become a concern after a fourth quarter collapse against England.
New Zealand squandered a six goal lead with 10 minutes left to lose 64-57 after extra time in their Quad Series opener at London’s Copper Box Arena yesterday.
Questions about the Silver Ferns’ lack of mental toughness and dealing with pressure at critical moments will only intensify after they seemingly let victory slip from their grasp.
The Silver Ferns were desperate to banish the memories of October’s 4-0 Constellation Cup crushing against Australia with a composed performance, but the same issues continue to surface.
‘‘It is disappointing we haven’t been able to close out games,’’ Grant said.
‘‘We need to do that, no doubt about it. Up by six, 10 minutes to go, we’d back ourselves to go through and take that.’’
A comprehensive review following the Constellation Cup drubbing highlighted mental toughness at critical moments as a major issue.
Coach Janine Southby told Stuff that they had come up with plans to help players deal with those situations and be able to ‘‘reset’’, but it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
‘‘It seems like it keeps coming up and about, mental toughness, mental toughness, but it’s not just that,’’ Grant said.
‘‘It’s also putting out our game plan and sticking to it and not going off task and going back individually to what we do.’’
With just 11 weeks until the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, New Zealand are fast running out of time to turn things around.
England and the Silver Ferns are in the same pool at the tournament and the Roses will be confident they can win and top the group, avoiding a likely semifinal showdown with Australia. New Zealand and England meet on April 11 in their final pool match.
The Roses have beaten New Zealand three times in their past five games since last August, having only previously beaten them four times before that in their history.
Consistency between quarters remains a problem with New Zealand producing a slick third quarter effort, which they won 15-8, to lead by six (43-37) approaching the final quarter. They immediately undid that positive work, scoring just six goals in the final term, allowing England back into the match.
England outscored the Silver Ferns 27-14 during the final quarter and extra time combined as heads dropped and confidence disappeared in the New Zealand camp.
Grant admitted they froze in
"It is disappointing we haven't been able to close out games."
Katrina Grant, right.
the final quarter of regulation and went away from their structures and game plan.
‘‘We started to get a bit panicky, which we didn’t need to do. I think the crowd really came through in the end and was the English eighth person.
‘‘We were caught waiting and just not getting on the front foot and doing what we normally do to get the ball back and not securing it and looking after it.’’
The Silver Ferns have plenty to stew over on their 11 hour flight to Johannesburg for their remaining Quad Series fixtures against South Africa on Friday (NZT) and Australia on Sunday (NZT).
South Africa pushed Australia in yesterday’s other match in London with the Diamonds holding on to win 54-50. The Proteas are big improvers in world netball and will realise New Zealand are vulnerable and can be beaten. They will be gunning for just their second victory over the Silver Ferns.
Grant became New Zealand’s most capped defender during the loss, playing her 105th test, overtaking Leana de Bruin’s record.
That accomplishment was largely lost in the pain of defeat. Grant said it was reassuring to know they had another crack at England in the pool stage of the Commonwealth Games.
‘‘If we lose three zip [in the Quad Series] and win a gold medal, you know what, it would be all good.
‘‘We don’t like to lose and this is definitely tough, no doubt about it. That South Africa game we’re really going to have to lift.’’