Netball: NZ notch two wins after losing opener

Grace Rasmussen is the only Silver Fern in the New Zealand squad. Photo / Getty Images

Defending champions New Zealand have ended the first day of the fastnet netball world series at Liverpool, England, with two wins and a loss.

New Zealand beat Malawi 29-23 and South Africa 31-16 after starting the day a 19-25 loss to Australia.

New Zealand couldn't capitalise on a strong start and faded badly in the middle stages as Australia eased away.

Malawi, who lost 32-30 to Jamaica earlier, made New Zealand work hard for their 29-23 win after leading for much of the match.

It was only the final quarter power play that allowed the Silver Ferns to get breathing space between them and the determined Africans.

Six teams are contesting the event, which is a shortened version of the game including rolling substitutions, double-point power plays, six minute quarters and two-point goals from outside the circle.

Both Australia and New Zealand are resting their top line-ups for the tournament after a testing Commonwealth Games campaign.

Hosts England and Jamaica are fielding almost full-strength line-ups, as are Malawi and South Africa.

Things started promisingly for the New Zealanders, and they took a useful 7-2 lead after the first quarter with, Australia uncharacteristically lacklustre in the opening minutes in allowing their archrivals too much leeway in the midcourt.

With Ellen Halpenny and Anna Thompson steady in the shooting circle, and with captain Maree Bowden controlling the tempo at centre, the New Zealanders maximised possession with some steady, no-frills netball.

There was little to distinguish the game from a conventional match, neither team trying anything out of the ordinary, and the Australians' customary fast- following game was conspicuous by its absence.

It was a completely different story in the second quarter, as the New Zealanders struggled to find their rhythm and Australia dominated possession.

Captain Kate Beveridge finally got some quality shooting ball from her midcourt, and the Australian defence tightened to choke off New Zealand's line of supply into their shooting circle.

A two-pointer right on the halftime whistle meant the Australians went into the break ahead for the first time 10-9, a lead they extended to 15-11 at the three-quarter mark.

The final quarter saw both teams use the double point power play, but it was Australia who capitalised better.

With some impressive height in the shooting circle in Caitlin Bassett, and with Beveridge's quick hands, the Australians never looked like conceding the lead and it took a final four-pointer from former Silver Fern Thompson right on the final whistle for New Zealand to regain respectability.

In another game England were untroubled in accounting for South Africa 30- 13.

- NZPA