By SHARON LUNDY
KINGSTON, Jamaica - New Zealand and Jamaica tonight sealed their world netball championships semi-final match-up with easy quarterfinal wins over Samoa and Fiji respectively.
New Zealand downed Samoa 81-28 and were never under threat in a game which was one-way traffic after the initial few minutes.
The game saw
familiar faces lining up against each other; Samoa captain Linda Vagana at goal keep kept former Silver Ferns team-mate Irene van Dyk working for every ball, while Samoa goal defence Rachel Rasmussen did the same with Canterbury Flames team-mate Belinda Colling.
Vagana stole several intercepts and tips but her team never stood a chance against the Silver Ferns' top line-up, who went into the quarter break 20-8 up.
Coach Ruth Aitken continued the squad rotation she has employed at the championships, moving Anna Rowberry to centre and bringing on Tania Dalton at goal shoot, Adine Harper at wing attack and Anna Scarlett at goal defence.
Dalton has gone from strength to strength through the tournament and continued that tonight, while Rowberry and Harper showed speed and flair on attack.
Ahead 38-13 at halftime, Aitken put Temepara Clark into centre, moved Dalton to goal attack and van Dyk back on at goal shoot.
For Samoa, Faleulu Tuupo took the court at goal defence for Rasmussen.
Silver Fern goal keep Vilimaina Davu was on fire and by the start of the final quarter New Zealand were 64-18 ahead.
Aitken brought on her remaining players -- Jodi Te Huna at wing attack and Leana du Plooy -- for the final quarter, the third time in six games she has played her full team.
The game was played amidst deafening home crowd support for Jamaica's Sunshine Girls on the next court, who downed Fiji 74-38. New Zealand on Wednesday (local time) beat Fiji 79-24, while on Monday Jamaica beat Samoa 84-24.
New Zealand and Jamaica meet in the semifinal at 6.45pm (local time) tomorrow.
- NZPA
