Netball: Game there for taking says coach

By JULIE ASH

A game of two halves is a saying Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering particularly dislikes - but unfortunately it sums up her side's 51-47 loss to Australia in the first netball test in Wellington.

Down 10 goals in the second quarter, the Silver Ferns fought back to within one goal late in Saturday night's game, but a series of unforced errors cost them the win in the first of the three-test series.

"In the last quarter we had three or four opportunities where we could have turned it around," said Willering. "The game was there for the taking. Australia were beatable but we lost it ourselves.

"Our play was very static at times, we should have let the ball go and our player movement needs to be far more aggressive."

Willering was confident her side's first-half performance would improve in the second test on Wednesday night in Invercargill.

"Jill McIntosh [the Australian coach] and I both said a good start was vital and that proved to be the case in the first test. Although we fought back hard, we should never have been in that position."

The midcourt seemed to have caused Willering the most concern as New Zealand struggled to get the ball through Australia's slick defence.

Opting to start with Adine Harper at centre and Temepara George at wing attack, Willering switched the two at the end of the first quarter before bringing Julie Seymour in at centre at halftime, which sparked New Zealand's comeback.

"It is not an untried combination," said Willering. "Adine Harper provided extra height in the mid court and on defence, and I think Temepara George feeds Irene van Dyk really well and the main feeding position is the wing attack position, so that was the main reason behind that."

But it was not just New Zealand's midcourt who were slow off the mark. The defence were also given the runaround by Australia, who led throughout the match with quarter scores of 16-11, 33-24 and 42-38.

"You could say there were nerves initially and you could say that maybe that [midcourt] combination wasn't as tried and true but a lot of it was unforced errors," said Willering. "We got some really quality ball and we didn't treasure it.

"We didn't take the care to take the time to put the feed into the shooters, whereas Australia were quite happy to play the ball around a number of passes before playing it into the shooters."

Australian captain Kathryn Harby-Williams, playing her 75th test, also believed her side's patience early in the game contributed to their victory.

"It showed the importance of making a good start. We would have liked to maintain that lead and should have been more up, but their defence really tightened up, which made all the difference."

She expected New Zealand to start with the same lineup who finished the first test.

"I would be surprised if they didn't start with Seymour, but they do have a lot of options," said Harby-Williams.

"We want to continue on with our form or else the victory in the first test won't mean anything."

The series winds up in Christchurch on Saturday night.