Netball: Runaway Ferns strike a flat patch

New Zealand 84 Barbados 45

KINGSTON - New Zealand may have beaten Barbados by nearly 40 goals but they will have to adjust better to the Caribbean style of netball if they meet Jamaica.

The Silver Ferns won their second game of the world championship 84-45 but allowed Barbados back into the game in the last quarter and took it by just four goals, at 16-12. That contrasted with a superb third quarter, which the Ferns won 27-9.

Coach Ruth Aitken scrambled her lineup: captain Anna Rowberry was at wing attack, goal attack Belinda Colling, goal defence Sheryl Clarke and centre Temepara Clark were joined by Leana du Plooy at goal keep, Anna Scarlett at wing defence and Tania Dalton at goal shoot.

The game began well, with New Zealand forcing a turnover off the first centre pass, which they converted, then following up to score off their own start.

Barbados dug in, staying in touch with the No 2-ranked team. But the Silver Ferns piled on the pressure and soon pulled ahead, taking the first 15-minute quarter 21-13.

Colling, wearing a black armband following the death of her uncle, former All Black Lin Colling, followed up her strong performance in the 99-11 annihilation of Niue with another solid showing.

Barbados' first circle defence combination of Paula Greaves and Laurel Browne struggled against Colling and Dalton and were replaced for the second quarter with Latonia Blackman and new cap Rhe Ann Niles, aged 17.

They were more effective but still unable to shut down the Ferns, who finished the first half 41-24 ahead.

Aitken made three changes, bringing on Irene van Dyk at goal shoot, Lesley Nicol at wing defence and Vilimaina Davu at goal keep.

Nicol was again tireless on defence, at one point forcing three turnovers within two minutes, while Colling shot 100 per cent for the quarter and van Dyk 95 per cent.

Ahead 68-33 at three-quarter time, Aitken put Adine Harper on at wing attack, moved Rowberry to centre and replaced Clarke with Scarlett at goal defence. The new combination took time to settle and let Barbados back into the game. Both teams put up 17 shots in the quarter but the Caribbean side converted just 12, compared with 16 by New Zealand.

Aitken said the performance was nowhere near what would be needed in the tougher games ahead - New Zealand are likely to meet Jamaica in the play-offs this week.

Australian coach Jill McIntosh is also looking for improvement after her side crushed Samoa 76-27.

Samoa, with former Silver Fern Linda Vagana in their ranks, matched the reigning champions goal for goal early and trailed by just 10-18 after the first quarter.

The Australians dominated the rest to lead 38-14 at halftime and 56-18 at the last break.

But McIntosh was not overly impressed, describing the performance as "a little bit sloppy".

- NZPA