New Zealand 46 World 7 41
The threat of a series whitewash against a World 7 kick-started the kind of gutsy performance netball fans expect to see from the Silver Ferns last night.
Having lost the first and second games by four and nine goals respectively, the pressure was on for the New Zealanders to
respond - and they did with a thrilling five-point win.
The New Zealand team came under much scrutiny after poor performances in Wellington and Rotorua where basic ball-handling errors and poor feeding to shooters ultimately cost them victory.
As has been the case in the past when the Ferns haven't performed, sharp shooter Irene van Dyk copped much of the blame for the New Zealand side's dismal start to the international season. That was especially so after game two, despite the fact she still shot at 90 per cent.
New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken called it a "character-building" week and suggested the early losses forced the team to bond even tighter, refuting calls there needed to be a re-shuffle of old for new players.
In fact, six of the current side came from the previous winning under-21 side. If you omit the experience of van Dyk, Temepara George, Maree Bowden and Joline Henry, every other player is under 25 years old.
Rookie Paula Griffin got the call-up on her home court at Trusts Stadium, while at the other end, Samoan international and Northern Mystics player Catherine Latu lined up in the goal shoot position for the World 7. Ironically, Trusts Stadium is also Latu's home away from home.
Both young shooters are aiming to consolidate a regular spot in the Silver Ferns, although Latu will not be cleared to play for New Zealand until after the next world championships. Despite both being rotated to the bench in the second half, they impressed.
Griffin showed promise and finished with a 73 per cent conversion rate. Latu continued on her strong previous showings, successfully shooting 12 from 14 attempts (86 per cent).
Another big improver since last Monday was George who finally delivered on some of the hype surrounding her return to the international stage.
It has been years since the speedy midcourter has had to deliver the ball to van Dyk - and she's never fed to Griffin. But her slick hands were on display last night and she showed glimpses of her dangerous form from the ANZ Championships.
It was the World 7 side who settled first and it looked early as though the game would follow a similar script to the first two games.
However, a trademark intercept by Laura Langman spurred her team on to tie up the scores.
Suddenly the pressure was on the visitors and it was the girls in pink throwing balls away, giving the home side time to capitalise and jump out to a four-point lead - the biggest lead for the Silver Ferns in any of the three tests.
At quarter time, it remained a three goal deficit in favour of the home side.
Sensing a momentum shift, World 7 coach Julie Fitzgerald swapped Demelza McCloud with Sonia Mkoloma, pairing the dangerous English defenders together for the remainder of the game.
Mkoloma and Mentor are arguably the best defensive unit in the world and offer promising signs for England, and the rest of the world, for figuring out how to minimise matchwinner van Dyk on court.
The second quarter was largely a time for the defensive ends to shine, the visitors taking five intercepts and the Ferns four. The scoreline swayed and the Ferns momentarily reverted back to basic mistakes when the pressure was on - but managed to hold on to a two goal lead at the main break.
Fitzgerald rang more changes, swapping Tamsin Greenway for Francis Solia at wing attack and putting on lanky Jamaican shooter Romelda Aitken at goal shoot.
For New Zealand, Ruth Aitken also mixed it up, with Joline Henry coming on in goal defence, Maria Tutaia at goal attack and Liana Barrett-Chase putting on the wing attack bib.
The injection of fresh legs worked and, although it was the World 7 side who adjusted to their changes first, pushing out a five-goal lead, the Silver Ferns again dug deep.
Thanks to some great defensive tips from Williams, they trailed by only two points but had the momentum as the last quarter approached.
It was all Silver Ferns in the final quarter as the defensive efforts of Williams, Henry and Langman forced the turnovers and gave the reliable duo van Dyk and Tutaia plenty of opportunity to push out to a gritty win.
