Netball: Ferns' final loss brings disappointing year to close

Irene van Dyk. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's netballers have finished the year in disappointing fashion, their loss in the Fastnet final to England in Liverpool overnight coming hard on the heels of their familiar struggles against Australia in the full version of the game.

The Fastnet Ferns were the reigning champions and in fact had won the previous two world series in the shortened form of the game. However, they failed to keep up with the home team in the final, losing 33-26 in front of an almost deliriously partisan home crowd at the Echo Arena.

England did the damage in the third quarter, dominating the score by a whopping 16-8. The match had been even until that point and although the Kiwis tried to come back in the final quarter, they could only manage a 4-4 scoreline.

The Ferns, captained by New Zealand veteran Irene van Dyk, had high hopes going into the tournament, which they will host for the next three years beginning in 2012.

For them it was a chance to end the season on a high note following the disappointments against Australia in July's World Championship final in Singapore, and the loss in the recent five-test series against the Diamonds despite dominating many matches for long periods.

The New Zealanders had mixed form during the tournament, a "short-form'' game played in a round-robin format over three days involving the top six nations according to world rankings. They beat Jamaica in the semi-final but lost to them during the round-robin and also suffered a defeat to Australia, albeit by one goal - 23-22. They picked up wins against South Africa and Fiji and thrashed the English 32-16 in round-robin only to lose when it mattered most.

The team, led by Silver Ferns coach Wai Taumaunu, featured a mix of experience and youth. Van Dyk was backed up by Maria Tutaia, and defenders Anna Scarlett and Katrina Grant, while youngsters including midcourter Shannon Francois and defenders Kayla Cullen, Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick and Jess Tuki were given a chance to perform on the international stage.

Taumaunu told the New Zealand Herald on the eve of the tournament that gaining experience was as important as getting a good result.

"We recognise the vagaries of this competition and the rules at present mean there's such a big element of luck that the difference between first and fourth is minimal in the end,'' she said.

"So we want to try and be focused on developing the youth, giving them a good experience and hopefully that will pan out in a positive result.''

The result was a disappointing one but at least Francois and Cullen, who featured in the final, will have found that out for themselves.