Netball: Ferns fold to Aussies

By DIANNA MALCOLM in Melbourne


World champions New Zealand watched the Holden Astra Netball test series slip from their grip by a two-point margin at the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne last night.

The Arena was filled to capacity by the competing screaming crescendoes of New Zealand and Australian supporters. A record Melbourne turnout of more than 10,000 watched the series fall Australia's way, 53-51. The intensity and passion from players made a mockery of one of the Melbourne papers, which ran seven pages on the AFL draft, and barely mentioned the netball decider.

New Zealand started slowly, giving up two priceless turnovers and by the end of the first 15 minutes were in arrears, 10-15. The intense physicality, which has been a focus of the series, continued unabated. But if the physical nature of the game transfixed those watching, it wasn't a conversation point for the players after the match. "Whenever you play for your country, you step up for it," captain and player of the match, Liz Ellis, said. "We would die for the ball and we would kill New Zealand for it. It just doesn't get any better than this."

New Zealand captain Lesley Nicol was equally passionate.

"We are absolutely gutted and we know we had the ability to do it, because we pulled back a five-goal margin from the first quarter," she said.

"But there were subtle things at crucial times and while we absorbed their pressure, we didn't apply pressure to them.

"The new players that were on tonight now know what it feels like to lose a match like this by two goals".

New Zealand were not surprised to see Australia's captain back on court after the well-publicised battle to overcome her ankle injury. She had a question mark hanging over her inclusion until the team lists were circulated to the media.

The 99-test veteran was cleared earlier in the day after her first training session caused only minimal swelling.

Australian coach Norma Plummer, who described the win as "nerve-racking to say the least", was relieved to welcome her captain back to the playing seven.

"We did miss her, there's no doubt about that," she said. "Just the way she reads the game. She wasnt 100 per cent, but she was 80 per cent and we were happy with that".

Her other concern was her goal shoot, Catherine Cox, who she believed needed to get a confident start to make a big impact. Cox shot 43 from her 53 attempts (81 per cent) netting all bar 10 of Australia's goals.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken kept her smile in place as she left the court behind her players.

"We always expect Australia to come back and that's what they did," she said.

A second-quarter substitution of Adine Wilson in at wing attack created room and pace for the New Zealand attack. The 25-year-old lawyer from the Southern Sting side replaced Amigene Metcalfe and immediately found a slick repartee with centre, Temepara Clark, the 29-year-old, 170cm dynamo.

By the end of the third quarter, New Zealand had their nose in front by a single goal, 39-38. Once again, goal shoot Irene van Dyk had to take some of the credit. The 190cm player had a rough ride under the goal from Ellis. Van Dyk shot 34 of her 40 attempts, securing the highest strike of the match with 85 per cent accuracy.

With van Dyk being so closely monitored, Jodi Te Huna, the goal attack put up 17 of her 24 attempts (71 per cent).

Plummer acknowledged van Dyk's role.

"Irene is now expected to pull out those goals," she said.

"For her to get player of the match nowadays she would have to do something seriously spectacular, because everyone just seems to expect these great games from her all the time."


- THE HERALD ON SUNDAY