Especially when you have not won a third quarter against your opposition in nine games.
The Silver Ferns can now make that 10 after their 18-12 deficit in the third quarter became their undoing in their 59-55 loss to the England Roses in Porirua last night.
The win means the Roses secure the Taini Jamison Trophy for the first time since 2021 and makes the final test in Invercargill on Sunday a dead rubber.
For the most part, the Silver Ferns, who fought back to win the final quarter, played well.
But they put themselves under unnecessary pressure, stopped punching through the middle and went into their shells in the second half.
They found themselves on top of each other, using the same channels, and did not pick up the gains they had in the first half.
The Roses ground the Silver Ferns down, and when the openings presented, the Roses made no mistake.
It was a tidy start for much of the first quarter.
Whitney Souness, who sat out the first test, used her speed to cut through the mess.
Her relationship with Maddy Gordon — who, despite having a great game, was replaced several times — came to the fore.
Young Roses goal attack Berri Neil, who started over veteran Helen Housby, worked off London Pulse partner Liv Tchine.
But the Roses lacked an experienced goal attack in their attack — and Kelly Jackson pounced.
Her reach made it nearly impossible for clean ball to reach the circle and her Central Pulse team-mate, Parris Mason, who got her first start at goal defence, backed her up.
Jackson’s three gains helped the Silver Ferns to a 16-13 lead.
That resulted in Housby entering for the Roses as they looked to use her nous to settle down.
They closed the gap to within one, but the Silver Ferns withstood that pressure.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio turned to the post with confidence and used her experience to roll the top.
She helped keep Roses threat Funmi Fadoju pretty quiet, which opened Grace Nweke up for a four-goal lead.
Desperate to get back in touch, Imogen Allison stole a brilliant pocket intercept.
She then shifted into centre, with Beth Cobden injected at wing defence, as the Roses returned to the starting lineup from the first test.
Tchine scored right on the buzzer for the Roses to trail 28-27 at halftime.
The Silver Ferns timing through court was slightly off to start the third, a result of the pressured defence from the Roses.
That was quickly rectified to give the home side a 33-29 lead.
But anytime the Silver Ferns jumped out, the Roses fought back. The visitors zone pushed the Silver Ferns wide, and they became stunted on attack as the Roses took a one-goal lead.
The lead change resulted in Karin Burger being injected at wing defence, and Gordon returned to centre, as they looked for a more direct entry.
The Roses looked more fluid in their transition, and where the entry into the Roses circle had been difficult in the first half, it became all too easy.
They held a 45-40 lead at the break.
Erena Mikaere entered in the final quarter, earning her second cap 2088 days after her previous one.
Maia Wilson earned her 50th cap.
Taini Jamison Trophy
The scores
England 59
Liv Tchine 41/46, Berri Neil 4/5, Helen Housby 14/17
Silver Ferns 55
Grace Nweke 43/51, Ameliaranne Ekenasio 11/13, Maia Wilson 1/1
Quarter scores: Silver Ferns 16-13, 28-27, 40-45
