Netball: NZ fronts up in emphatic style

New Zealand's Maria Tuatai looks to pass the ball against Australia in the International netball...
New Zealand's Maria Tuatai looks to pass the ball against Australia in the International netball test at the TSB Bank Arena. Credit:NZPA / Dianne Manson
An outstanding all-round defensive effort, some superb midcourt drive, and a deadly shooting circle combined to give New Zealand a 59-40 win over Australia in the second test last night.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken was able to use 11 of her 12-strong bench, and each player contributed to a hugely satisfying victory after Sunday's first-up loss in Adelaide.

The first quarter could, by no stretch of the imagination, have been called error-free, but what it lacked in fluidity it made up for in intensity, both teams fighting for every scrap of possession.

Both coaches made judicious changes from the first test, won 48-43 by Australia after the New Zealanders faded in the closing five minutes.

Aitken gave returning defender Anna Scarlett her first start in the big time for more than three years, positioning her at goal keep with captain Casey Williams roaming wider at goal defence.

Other than that, the Silver Ferns line-up mirrored that from Adelaide, Temepara George and Laura Langman marshalling the midcourt with Joline Henry at wing defence, and Irene van Dyk paired again with Maria Tutaia.

Australia's Norma Plummer adjusted her shooting circle, bringing Catherine Cox in at goal shoot and captain Sharelle McMahon shifting out to her more favoured goal attack position.

Kimberlee Green started at wing attack instead of Lauren Nourse, but the remainder of the Diamonds' line-up remained the same.

Although the New Zealanders' start was slow - Australia snapped up the first two goals - they soon hit their stride, playing with precision and at pace, offering plenty of movement off the ball and forcing turnovers aplenty with superb full-court defensive pressure.

By the end of the first quarter, the Silver Ferns led 16-11.

Australia had converted all its shots on goal while the New Zealanders had been less accurate but far more effective in dominating possession and had put up 20 attempts.

The Silver Ferns' momentum forced a victory of sorts, as Plummer brought on Sunday's game-breaker in 1.96m goal keep Susan Fuhrmann for the second quarter.

But where van Dyk faded under the physical pressure on Sunday, she stepped up and proved unflappable last night.

Helping that composure was a superb performance from Tutaia, under considerable pressure from Mo'onia Gerrard at goal defence.

Tutaia sank 10 from 11 for the second 15-minute spell, while van Dyk converted five from six.

Gerrard was replaced at halftime by Bec Bulley, as the Ferns went into the break with an astonishing 31-19 lead.

The Silver Ferns made a replacement of their own, resting the hard-working van Dyk and bringing on Daneka Wipiiti, a brave move considering the Southern Steel shooter's recent lack of game time.

But Wipiiti stepped up superbly, moving well against Fuhrmann, and sinking some superb-long distance shots.

By the end of the spell, she had converted 10 of 12 of her shots on goal, and the Australians were looking increasingly ragged.

Ahead 45-30 at the three-quarter mark, the New Zealand coaches again rang the changes, subbing off Scarlett, who had been outstanding, and bringing on the rangy Leana de Bruin at goal keep.

Liana Barrett-Chase took over the wing attack's bib, and the Silver Ferns machine rolled on, with Langman and George offering variety and an eagle eye for the gap in their feeding of the circle.

Plummer resorted to fielding a New South Wales Swifts line-up in an effort to stem the haemorrhage of goals - Kim Green at centre, Sue Pratley at goal attack, and goal shoot Cox.

It made no difference.

The Silver Ferns were unstoppable, their 19-goal win providing a huge confidence boost for their Commonwealth Games title defence in New Delhi next month.

NZ v Australia
The scores
New Zealand
59
Irene van Dyk 15/17, Maria Tutaia 24/32, Daneka Wipiiti 18/25, Grace Rasmussen 2/3
Australia 40
Catherine Cox 27/31, Sharelle McMahon 9/12, Sue Pratley 4/5
Halftime: 31-19.

 

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