Netball: Aitken demands sharper play from Ferns

By JULIE ASH

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken is looking for a huge improvement in her side's timing in tonight's second test in Palmerston North.

The Silver Ferns head into the match with their sights on securing their first series win over Australia since 1989.

While the New Zealanders proved their world championship win wasn't a one-off by downing the Aussies 54-45 in the opening test in Christchurch, the match was scrappy.

Neither team managed to get any sort of flow going through court and the game was riddled with turnovers and unforced errors.

Aitken believes a lot of it came down to her side's slowness to react to Australia's torrid one-on-one defence.

"It is quite a different style from what New Zealanders play," she said. "I think the National Bank Cup provided the intensity but it didn't provide that style of defence.

"It is always an awakening to play Australia at this level."

There were, however, a few good points to come from the game.

Silver Fern defenders Sheryl Scanlan and Vilimaina Davu did a remarkable job in containing Australia's racy shooter Sharelle McMahon, who got so flustered she was of little use to anyone.

Adine Harper contributed well when she came on at wing attack replacing captain Anna Rowberry.

"There were some good passages of play," Aitken said.

"But Australia are a team that doesn't allow you to get a flow very often so we just need to work at getting smarter at making sure we use that ball because when we really moved that ball there were some fantastic opportunities.

"I think the players need to have a bit more confidence and let the ball go a bit more."

Like Aitken, Australian coach Norma Plummer will be looking for a lot fewer mistakes from her side.

The "new look" Australian team actually led New Zealand by two in the first quarter but like the Silver Ferns threw away a tremendous amount of possession.

The telling difference in the match was the shooting where the Silver Ferns managed to land 54 goals from 61 attempts and Australia just 45 from 63.

"I was pretty pleased," Plummer said.

"If we had 10 fewer shots it might be a different story, but we didn't."

Plummer was also satisfied with the performance of debutante Demelza Fellowes.

The towering 1.89m defender combined well with captain Liz Ellis and forced the Ferns attack into plenty of errors.


"I think she [Demelza] grew in the match and I think that is why I was prepared to leave her out there," she said.

"She is not going to work it out if I don't give her the opportunity and you can't do it in one match," Plummer said.

Both coaches made a number of changes throughout the opening test and with both sides seeming to have a strong emphasis on developing players for the future, further changes are likely.

"I have said right from the outset that my aim was to get more than seven players out on court and that is the philosophy I want to follow," Aitken said.

"Now we have got nine players that have experienced that intensity out there and I think that is good for the whole team."

* The match is live on TV One from 7.30pm