Netball: Steady hands rescue Ferns in fiery finish

KINGSTON - Ruth Aitken survived a nerve-racking debut as the Silver Ferns coach when the team needed to come from behind to beat Jamaica 46-44 in a rugged first test yesterday.

Old heads were the calming influence as the Silver Ferns pegged back a five-goal deficit at the three-quarter mark to gain the momentum and keep their unbeaten record against Jamaica intact.

There was action aplenty from start to finish, the intensity never dwindling in a match which produced a mixture of high skill and blatant fouling.

"Funnily enough I wasn't that nervous," Aitken said after the nail-biter.

"Probably because it is still part of the big picture and I was wanting to try different things. I just felt we actually had it there, we just had to grind it away and keep on keeping on.

"It was outstanding that it happened, but this is what we came for. It was so much better for us than actually winning by 20 - although that would have been easier for the coach on the sideline.

"I got all 12 players on court. It wasn't quite what I thought I was going to do, but it worked well, which was great."

The introduction of former captain Belinda Colling for Temepara Clark in the unfamiliar position of wing attack in the second quarter proved decisive. Colling's court craft, ball skills and physical presence took care of destructive Jamaica wing defence Sharon Wiles.

Old hands Colling, captain Julie Seymour, Lesley Nicol, Belinda Charteris and Irene van Dyk provided the calming influence in the final quarter of a game in which tempers flared and players from both teams were felled with monotonous regularity.

The game got off to a feisty start and the Silver Ferns appeared to have things under control by the first break when they led 15-11.

Once either the towering figures of van Dyk or Elaine Davis for Jamaica received the ball in their respective circles a goal was almost a foregone conclusion.

The young Jamaica team hung on to New Zealand's coat tails with determination and as the visitors slackened defensively, the home team made their move.

Buoyed by deafening support from the crowd, Jamaica produced some magic play in the second and third quarters.

Finding more space and with more possession, the home team opened cracks in New Zealand's defence and on the stroke of halftime levelled at 25-25.

Jamaica's goal attack Simone Forbes played a big role in marshalling her attacking line, as well as popping in numerous goals.

New Zealand on the other hand ran without direction for much of the spell.

In the third quarter, errors infiltrated the Silver Ferns' play and Jamaica for a while were unstoppable.

The full array of Jamaica's aerial ability, athleticism and ball skills were on show as they waltzed into three-quarter time 39-34 in front and with the game in their grasp.

New Zealand turned up the heat in the final 15 minutes as Jamaica just as quickly went off the boil and the visitors levelled at 40-40 with just over seven minutes remaining.

With van Dyk back on after a break in the third quarter and the staunch play of Seymour, Nicol and the battle-weary Colling, the Silver Ferns held their nerve.

"When you are five goals down going into the last quarter it's time to put your reinforcements on," Aitken said.

It was another heartbreaking result for Jamaica coach Maureen Hall, who has come close on numerous occasions but never achieved the elusive win.

"I'm tired of being the bridesmaid," an emotional Hall said.

"All we had to do in that last quarter was score off our own centre pass. It was a lack of experience and composure.

"I've been in this position a million times against New Zealand. Been there, done that, so what's a five-goal lead?"

Van Dyk produced outstanding shooting figures with just the one miss, potting 24 from 25.

Angela Evans shot 17 from 21 and Loffhagen five from nine.

The second test will be played this afternoon.

- NZPA