Netball: Silver Ferns beat England

2.00pm - By SHARON LUNDY

NEW ZEALAND 60 ENGLAND 41

Experience and fitness were the telling factors as New Zealand dug deep to beat England 60-41 in their first challenging game of the World Netball Championships today.

The teams met in a three-test series in New Zealand last month, the Silver Ferns winning 65-41, 55-35 and 48-41.

The worst result came in the final test and Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken tonight took no chance of a repeat, starting with her strongest seven of Irene van Dyk at goal shoot, Belinda Colling goal attack, captain Anna Rowberry wing attack, Temepara Clark centre, Lesley Nicol wing defence, Sheryl Clarke goal defence and Vilimaina Davu goal keep.

New Zealand started well to go 6-3 up but several turnovers as a result of simple errors let England catch up.

England goal shoot Alex Astle and goal attack, Australian-born Abby Teare, made sure of their shots, while goal defence Sonia Mkoloma and goal keep Naomi Siddall made Colling and van Dyk work for every shot.

Clarke and Davu made England work just as hard and several times hopeful passes went sailing out the back.

New Zealand took the quarter 14-11 and returned to the court with the same line-up, while England coach Lyn Gunson, a former Silver Fern player and coach, brought 18-year-old Geva Mentor on at goal keep.

Mentor continued the rugged tussle Siddall and Mkoloma had started with Colling and van Dyk and England, buoyed by the support of the Jamaican crowd, drew level 10 minutes into the quarter.

New Zealand again dug deep to get back in front and finish the quarter 24-21 ahead.

Adine Harper replaced Rowberry, who has been troubled by a calf strain, for the third spell and it was then England started to tire.

The battle in New Zealand's shooting circle continued but Mkoloma and Mentor gave away more penalties, on which van Dyk and Colling capitalised.

Mkoloma left the court injured half way through the quarter, forcing Gunson to move Amanda Newton to goal defence and bring Jade Clarke on at wing defence.

Teare's shooting kept England in the game but New Zealand continued to pull ahead, taking the quarter 18-9 and going into the final 15 minutes 42-30 in front.

Mkoloma returned to goal defence for the final quarter, Newton moved back to wing defence, Clarke to centre and Jamaican-borne Janet Coulbourne came on at goal keep.

Temepara Clark, who had been dynamic on defence and attack throughout, was forced from the court with an ankle injury. The versatile Nicol slotted into centre and Anna Scarlett came on at wing defence.

Aitken swapped Scarlett and Clarke during a second injury time minutes later.

- NZPA