Netball: Aussie backlash reality check for Ferns

By RICHARD BOOCK

New Zealand's unofficial reign at the top of world netball lasted precisely a week.

The Silver Ferns returned home with the inaugural Tri-Nations trophy yesterday, but any suggestions they had stolen a march on Australia were put on ice - along with a cluster of ankles, knees and noses - after a 52-62 loss to the world champions on Saturday night.

The eagerly awaited transtasman rematch in Sydney was everything it promised to be and then some, the tension leading to a robust encounter dominated by injuries, umpiring warnings and a massive penalty count.

If ever the idea of netball being a non-contact sport was buried once and for all, it was surely in this final test of the series, in which Australia needed to win by more than 15 goals to make up for their big loss against New Zealand the previous week.

The hosts could not quite manage to pull off the feat, doing everything but that in pushing out to a 14-goal advantage with just two minutes left before defender Vilimaina Davu and goal-shoot Irene van Dyk made the title safe for New Zealand.

For most of the game, however, Australian's determination contrasted markedly with New Zealand's lack of composure, and this was never more evident than in the third quarter, which the world champions won 16-10 to effectively seal the win.

It was the one that got away for the Ferns, who were looking to score a third consecutive win over Australia and reinforce their standing as the new power in world netball, something which has eluded them since 1986.

Instead, it became increasingly noticeable that they were still vulnerable against Australia's vigorous defensive tactics, and were uncertain - even confused - about how to counter their rivals' physical and no-holds-barred approach.

Van Dyk was left on the ground gasping for air after copping a Liz Ellis elbow shortly after halftime, New Zealand captain Bernice Mene - warned by the umpires to tidy up her play at one stage - was later felled by a blow to the knee, and Ellis found herself on the receiving end late in the game after being hit on the nose by van Dyk.

Ferns coach Yvonne Willering said afterwards that she was not surprised by the Australians' approach, but was disappointed that her side had been sucked into the dogfight instead of playing their own game and steering clear of trouble.

"We got involved in their game instead of sticking to our own tactics," she said. "It was physical, but we needed to rise above that and concentrate on our own game plan.

"We didn't do that. We didn't seem to absorb the pressure as we usually would, and started to freeze on the ball. I thought the pass into Irene was still on if executed a little differently, but we started to become very hesitant and treasured the ball, instead of letting it go."

Willering stuck to the line-up which served her so well last weekend in Melbourne, but her decision to persist with the halftime switch between Belinda Colling and Donna Loffhagen may have backfired.

While Colling again shot economically, netting just five goals in the first half, her passing and positional game had been outstanding, her combination with van Dyk secure and her competitive streak in the heat of battle invaluable.

On the other hand, Loffhagen and van Dyk were unable to form the same threat to the Australians, and by the end of the third quarter Jill McIntosh's side had opened up a match-deciding 48-36 lead.