Netball: Silver Ferns bounce back to grab series

KINGSTON - The Silver Ferns threw their arms in the air with delight after winning a pulsating third test 44-42 to clinch the series 2-1 against Jamaica in Kingston yesterday.

The frantic pace and bruising nature of the series ended in anti-climatic fashion at the National Arena when the umpires called fulltime with three minutes of running time showing on the scoreboard and with Jamaica mounting another assault in front of a record crowd of 3500.

Officials had failed to stop the clock for injury time and the Silver Ferns were mightily relieved to have battled back from a shock second-test loss.

The New Zealanders displayed all the qualities that were missing in that 53-44 defeat.

There was composure and control in the attacking play, and the concerted and sustained defensive pressure through court limited the exciting Jamaicans.

"I'm very proud of the team, definitely," Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said after the game.

"They were united in the fact that they weren't going to let anything else upset their determination to succeed.

"Despite everything, they rose again, again and again ... and that was just outstanding."

Everyone did their job as Aitken concentrated on winning the decider with virtually the same starting seven players in the face of criticism of her rotation policy during the tour.

Jamaica umpire Dalton Hinds, who caused controversy with his heavy penalty count against the New Zealanders in the second test, featured again yesterday, but the Silver Ferns rose above his inconsistent whistling.

Irene van Dyk and Donna Loffhagen proved a match-winning combination in goal.

Loffhagen survived some testy moments against Nadine Ffrench, while van Dyk improved as the match wore on, regaining her confidence after the caning she got from Hinds in the second test.

The Silver Ferns started positively and despite the danger posed by the superbly athletic Jamaicans, stayed in that frame of mind throughout the match.

They gained the lead midway through the first quarter and maintained it until the end, with quarter scores of 14-11, 26-22 and 38-35.

Time and again Jamaica chipped into the Silver Ferns' slim lead, but the tourists' resolve was rock-solid.

Victoria Edward worked hard on wing defence, latching on to vital intercepts and scrapping for the loose ball, while Jenny-May Coffin made her first appearance in the series after recovering from illness to play a pivotal role at wing attack.

Unsung heroes Anna Veronese and Sheryl Clarke had huge games against the towering and inspiring Elaine Davis and busy goal attack Simone Forbes.

The pair put real pressure on the goal shooters for the first time in the series and were rewarded by stemming Jamaica's ball supply and putting the normally accurate pair off their shots.

Captain Julie Seymour linked the court well on attack and defence.

"It had to be a whole team effort, it really did," Aitken said.

"We've really become a team in 11 days and it's a credit to them."

However, the series was a disappointment for astute Jamaica coach Maureen Hall, who had done so well to bring her young and inexperienced team back into the series after losing the first test 46-44.

"In a contest you want to come out on top, so I'm disappointed. I thought that even towards the end we had at least four opportunities to turn the game around," she said.

"I guess that's part of the inexperience.

"I expected New Zealand to come back, I didn't expect them to fall apart.

"They were pretty good. They worked really hard in the first quarter to get a lead and maintain it.

"Even when we came back they were very relaxed. That is a part of their game I admire."

The New Zealand team will arrive home tomorrow while Aitken heads to England to check the facilities in Manchester for the Commonwealth Games in July and August.

She will also see matches involving Australia, Barbados and England.

- NZPA