Netball: Ferns show they mean business

Anna Scarlett took a hammering from the Australians. Picture / Dean Purcell

New Zealand 43 Australia 37

The moment they set foot in the stadium it was clear the Silver Ferns weren't leaving without a win.

The normally bubbly Temepara George had a face like thunder, the effervescent Anna Scarlett was quietly subdued and coach Ruth Aitken, who has to be one of the sunniest people on the planet, looked grim.

The AC/DC song Thunderstruck, which continually rang out around the stadium, suddenly seemed appropriate.

The Ferns had not only been thunderstruck - they were on the verge of being struck out.

With a series loss staring them in the face after their 51-47 defeat by Australia in the first test, this was perhaps the Silver Ferns' toughest challenge since July 19, 2003, when they outmuscled Australia to take their place at the top of the netball tree.

They lost a series to Australia in 2004 but this was different - this series is the last time the two sides meet before next year's world championships.

A series loss to an Australian side still developing combinations wouldn't bode well for the New Zealanders. There was only one thing to do, and that was to even things up.

"It was a do-or-die situation and we didn't want to die," Ferns vice-captain George said.

The series format - three tests in five days - makes it difficult for teams to turn things around.

But after the first test loss Aitken identified three things which needed to be rectified - her side's lack of flow on attack, their movement in the shooting circle and their tentative defence - and set about fixing them.

She didn't inflict torturous training sessions, they were simply concise in their analysis, worked on a few clear ideas and ensured the team executed them.

Although the Australian defence was still stifling, the Silver Ferns attack was better.

Shooter Irene van Dyk came out of the goal circle and helped, which took pressure off the New Zealand feeders.

"Since I have been just 'hangin' by the goal post, I thought why not branch out?" van Dyk said.

"No one expects me to run because I don't normally do that. It is just adding a little bit.

"Maria [Tutaia] is terribly accurate. It doesn't matter where she gets the ball from she puts them up, [so] I have that freedom to branch out a little bit."

Aitken was looking for more movement from van Dyk and Tutaia to allow the feeders to vary their passes into them.

Her side not only attacked with a lot more confidence, they also got more length to their play, she said.

"Our defenders brought the ball through court more successfully so it allowed our fire-power to be up there, up front."

The Silver Ferns started with a one-on-one defence that appeared to wear down the Australians, who then really struggled when the New Zealanders reverted to the zone approach.

Aitken said the Silver Ferns had planned to change their defensive style but did it a little earlier because of the injury which ended Scarlett's night.

"When Leana [de Bruin] came on we changed our defence to a bit more of a zone and looked to get that ball lifted.

"That is when the defenders are supposed to get out and get it, which they did.

"We also forced them to look for the longer shots ... That is something we wanted to do and then our defence of the shot can be used to its full advantage."

Scarlett was fine yesterday after her spectacular collision with Natalie von Bertouch.

"If you are going to do it, you do it properly, which has always been Scarlett's motto," Aitken said. "She'll bounce back."

Some umpiring calls were again questionable. New Zealand and Australia felt some went against them but acknowledged that Jamaican umpires Chris Campbell and Dalton Hines allowed a lot of contesting.

Australian captain Liz Ellis said their domestic league did not allow as much contesting but, as a defender, it didn't bother her.

"All our shooters are used to taking body [hits] and they are all good enough to stand up and do it.

"I wouldn't look at it and say they were roughed up, I thought the contest was pretty consistent."