Netball: Australia look to take skills to another level

Liz Ellis

Australia are looking for improvements at both ends of the court as they aim to wrap up the series against the Silver Ferns in Auckland tonight.

The Australians drew first blood in the three test series beating New Zealand 51-47 in Wellington.

They ground down the Silver Ferns in the last quarter to secure their first win in New Zealand since 2001.

The Australians were dominant on defence while the new shooting combination of Sharelle McMahon and Susan Pratley, who have played together only since the Commonwealth Games, had the better of the New Zealand defence.

The worrying thing for the Silver Ferns is that vice-captain McMahon and captain Liz Ellis feel improvements can be made in their respective ends.

"I thought it took us a little while to get into the game," Ellis said.

"I thought [goal defence] Mo'onia [Gerrard] and I - a couple of times got mixed up with a few different things. I think towards the end of the game we really came into our own but it took us a little while to get there."

McMahon said her relationship with Pratley is strengthening but still has a long way to go.

"We do create the space for each other quite well. The New Zealand defence is extremely tight and extremely tough so we do need to keep working for each other," she said.

McMahon said she was pleased with her side's control on attack.

"That is one thing we have been working on, not throwing too many passes away.

"I think that when things didn't open for us straight away that we were patient enough to see the space so that was probably for me the most pleasing thing."

When asked how they found space McMahon laughed: "It is a secret.

"We have been doing a lot of work looking at the video, any defence has got a weakness so you just have to work at that and find where that weakness is. We still have a lot to improve on. By no means will we be happy with where we are. We'll still be taking those steps forward."

With three tests in five days Australian coach Norma Plummer said she will use her bench. That could mean the introduction of talented youngster Julie Prendergast at goal defence.

"The turnaround between games is so limited, our bench is going to get a run," Plummer said. "I just don't think we can afford to flog anybody - it's going to be one of those situations when you just can't overload players."