Netball: Inside information helps the Aussies find winning formula

By DYLAN CLEAVER

Just a little bit of crucial local knowledge went a long way to helping Australia overcome the world champion Silver Ferns in Sydney last night.

Natalie Avellino was playing her first test against New Zealand, but was familiar with the players and their traits following a championship-winning season with the Southern Sting.

Back in the Australian side for the first time in nine years, Avellion said her transtasman sojourn proved invaluable.

"Just some of the things you can pick and a few pointers here helped, but we had them covered as a team," Avellino said. "I just had a bit more input from what I'd picked up."

The wing attack said one of the keys was keeping Irene van Dyk down to as few opportunities as possible.

It was something her Southern Sting team-mate Adine Wilson noticed.

"It was partly getting used to new combinations, but they've obviously watched Irene, they've seen her play and really taken that on board," Wilson said.

While van Dyk missed only one shot from 33 attempts, it was eight attempts fewer than Catherine Cox managed at the other end.

"They were moving around Irene a great deal, which confused the space to feed it in. If we'd just thrown it around the circle quicker and worked it in slowly we could have done it. We'll definitely be practising that this week. We hate losing; that's enough inspiration in itself."

Wilson confessed the game was lost in the opening minutes, as Australia came out swinging following four successive defeats.

"They hit us hard, taking the ball and moving it around the circle. We started a little flat and waited for things to happen, instead of making it happen ourselves.

"I can't think of any reason in particular why we did that [started poorly], but I can tell you now we won't be doing it again."

When Wilson said they hit the Silver Ferns hard, she could have been referring to the physical nature of the match.

Avellino said it was surprisingly physical, but they were prepared, a point emphasised by vice-captain and ace shooter Cox.

"We knew we were going to get hit," Australian vice-captain Catherine Cox said. "We had to get on with it, take the knocks and not get frazzled.

"If you can't handle that there's something wrong with you," coach Norma Plummer concurred. "It's international netball and you must be prepared for anything."

Her counterpart Ruth Aitken was equally succinct in her summing up of the Silver Ferns' disappointing performance.

"Not good enough for a world champion side,' she said, like Wilson bemoaning the poor start.

"But it was a great second half and there are good things we can take from it in terms of the younger players. Anna Scarlett and Jodi Te Huna really stepped up." They will have to once more in a few night's time.

Captain Lesley Nicol didn't take part in the fourth quarter and had her thigh iced following the match, but is expected to play a full part in Perth.

Australian captain Liz Ellis also missed some of the match with an ankle injury, but was standing freely by the side of the court following the game.