Silver Ferns brush past Jamaicans
The Silver Ferns secured the Taini Jamison Trophy with another win over Jamaica, but really, there was never any danger of it going anywhere.
New Zealand beat Jamaica 61-38 at CET Arena in Palmerston North on Wednesday night, with Jamaica looking a lot better than when they were beaten 72-34 in Nelson on Sunday.
The Silver Ferns’ links on attack were not quite as sharp as in Nelson, but they ran away with it in the end, scoring 19 goals in the final quarter in front of a crowd of 2523. There is one more game in the three-match series, in Rotorua on Saturday.
Goal keep Jane Watson was the standout for the Silver Ferns and was into everything on defence, grabbing seven rebounds.
She made the night hard for Jamaica, who are without their tall shooters Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and Romelda Aiken.
Even without their two stars, Jamaica looked a changed outfit to change the game, playing with a lot more intensity and they were physical to start the match, which disrupted the Silver Ferns.
Their defence was shutting down the Silver Ferns’ attacks and Jamaica even led until mid way through the first quarter, when New Zealand levelled it at 6-all, then edged in front by five goals by the end of the quarter.
New Zealand took charge in the second quarter with Watson in fine form, grabbing a couple of intercepts and some key rebounds from Jamaica’s missed shots. With the Silver Ferns in front 29-16 at halftime, the Jamaicans started well after the break, but then New Zealand started dominating the game.
Jamaica kept battling away and didn’t let the lead blow out until the final spell.
Wing attack Grace Rasmussen continued her good form for the Silver Ferns with nice feeding on the circle edge and fast passes.
Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby made changes throughout the game as she looks to grow combinations, with all four shooters getting a run.
That meant young shooter Maia Wilson was handed a debut with four minutes to go in the final quarter and she kept a cool head, only missing one of her four shots at goal.
Along with Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who was playing her third test, it would have been one of New Zealand’s most inexperienced shooting circles at the end of the game.