Netball: NZ wraps up netball series over England

New Zealand wrapped up the three-match netball test series against England with a 64-45 win in the final test in London this morning (NZT).

A late flurry in the fourth quarter enabled the Silver Ferns to post their second biggest win of the series, after a 16-goal win in Manchester and Birmingham's 21-point victory.

However, the performance in front of the sell-out 9200 crowd should cause the Silver Ferns' coaching staff some sleepless nights.

The win was not assured until early in the fourth quarter when New Zealand, their backs against the wall, used all their tricks to draw away from their opposition.

The first half was untidy and New Zealand only led by four goals.

The Silver Ferns' passing, which has been shabby for the entire tour, stood out beacon-like as a major problem area. There was a lack of communication in the midcourt and New Zealand lost possession in two centre pass-offs.

New Zealand held a four-point advantage at halftime, leading 29-25, but unlike the other two tests the Silver Ferns could not overpower England.

New Zealand moved out to a 10-goal lead early in the second period but could not sustain it.

In the third quarter New Zealand were running scared while England sniffed an upset or at least a confidence-boosting losing margin when the scores were still only separated by four at the end of the third period, 43-39.

However, the Silver Ferns' experience in pressure situations got them out of trouble, winning the final quarter 20-6 and ultimately the game by a comfortable margin.

Coach Ruth Aitken gambled with her starting line-up, playing Angela Mitchell at goal attack and teenage goal defence Anna Scarlett, thereby managing to give her entire squad of 12 game time during the test series.

Irene van Dyk started her third test match at goal shoot, while Jenny-May Coffin (wing attack), centre Anna Rowberry and Lesley Nicol at wing defence made up the mid-court. Vilimaina Davu started at goal keep.

Aitken's choice in the starting defensive positions was an entirely new combination to those that took the court first in Birmingham.

Although Nicol, Scarlett and Davu coped better than Edward, Clarke and du Plooy did with Jamaican referee Dalton Hinds' officiating in the second test, New Zealand's defence the entire tour has raised questions.

Aitken shuffled her defence to include Sheryl Clark in the second half at the expense of Scarlett. Coffin also came off to make way for Victoria Edward at centre.

Rowberry moved out to wing attack, while Belinda Colling came on at goal attack for the remainder of the match. Adine Harper entered at wing attack, and Rowberry moved back to centre in the fourth quarter for Aitken to rotate 11 players during the 60 minutes.

England coach Lyn Gunson started Geva Mentor at goal keep and opted for Australian-born Abby Teare at goal shoot, otherwise Gunson stuck with the remainder of her starting seven from the second test.

New Zealand's shooters had a mixed performance. Van Dyk missed just three of her 53 goal attempts, Mitchell made just six of her 12 attempts, while Colling shot eight from 11.

England's Abby Teare made 23 from 33 attempts while Tracey Neville at goal attack missed nine goals from her 31 shots.

- NZPA