Julie Ash: That hot night in Jamaica

COMMENT

The sight of Silver Ferns captain Anna Rowberry firing the ball into the air along with the release of emotion that came with it will be etched in the minds of New Zealand sports fans for years to come.

The world championship trophy was finally the Silver Ferns' after a 16-year wait. And last night they received another accolade, winning the Halberg Supreme Award in Christchurch.

After a string of heartbreaking losses to Australia in the dying minutes of their games, the Silver Ferns finally got one back on that hot and humid evening in Jamaica.

The team went into the final with an air of confidence. After demolishing the highly fancied Jamaicans in the semifinals, the Silver Ferns had earned plenty of respect.

But, as confident and impressive as the New Zealand team appeared, they were up against an Australian outfit who were unaccustomed to finishing second and who gave the impression they would walk over broken glass to get their hands on that gold medal.

But on this occasion the New Zealanders wanted it more and, after leading in every quarter, the Silver Ferns clinched the match 49-47.

The Silver Ferns' success really was a team effort. Sheryl Clarke and Vilimaina Davu defended as if their lives depended on it.

Rowberry, who spent 15 months in the wilderness after being dropped by former coach Yvonne Willering, put aside the strain in her calf muscle, which had seen her sidelined for most of the tournament, and battled on.

Temepara Clark also bounced back after being axed from the team and, despite being sent off in the final, is probably now regarded as the best centre in the world.

Then there was Lesley Nicol, New Zealand's most capped player, who was finally able to celebrate a world championship win.

South African-born Irene van Dyk, who struggled early on to contend with the frantic pace at which New Zealanders played the game, netted almost every ball that came her way, and Belinda Colling made it clear she was not leaving without the gold.

The Silver Ferns' success can be largely attributed to coach Ruth Aitken and her assistant Leigh Gibbs, who had plenty of doubters when they took over the reigns.

Aitken and Gibbs worked hard leading up to the championship.

While the players may have felt like idiots training in heat chambers with Bob Marley music blaring, or standing in a pitch-black stadium waiting for the lights to come back on just in case there was a power cut in Jamaica, such thorough preparation proved a master stroke. It ensured nothing surprised the team.

But a lot has to be said of the dedication of 12 players. Competing in an amateur sport, several cut back their work hours so they could dedicate more time to prepare - a huge sacrifice.

Going into the tournament the Silver Ferns' philosophy was: "If you want something you have never had you have to be prepared to do something you have never done."

They did that and can now lay claims to being the best side in the world.