Netball: Silver Ferns breeze past Jamaica

Irene van Dyk of the Silver Ferns takes a pass ahead of Malysha Kelly of Jamaica. Photo / Getty Images

Another netball test, another lop-sided victory for the Silver Ferns over Jamaica, this time 62-40 at Napier's Pettigrew Green Arena.

The margin tonight was similar to Wednesday's 58-35 first test win in Christchurch, but the manner of the win was far more impressive, particularly in the first 30 minutes as the Silver Ferns combined fierce defence with pace and drive on attack to lead 35-21 at halftime.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken kept her second-half lineup from Christchurch almost completely intact in starting tonight, her only change coming at goal keep, where returning international Anna Scarlett started ahead of Katrina Grant.

With 40 caps to her credit, Scarlett could hardly be described as inexperienced and has forced her way back into the top tier after nearly three years on the international beach volleyball circuit.

After warming the bench in the first test, and only limited game time against Samoa at the beginning of the month, Scarlett burst into the game with flurry of fast-moving feet and long-reaching arms.

Her combination with captain and goal defence Casey Williams was solid, and the pair worked mightily to rein in towering Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken, who finished the game with 33 from 38 for an 87 percent success rate.

After the Silver Ferns' scratchy start to the first test on Wednesday, New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken was looking for more cohesion in the links between the midcourt and shooters Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia, as well as a vastly reduced turnover rate.

She would have been more than happy at the end of the first quarter, as the Silver Ferns belted out to a 19-12 lead. van Dyk and Tutaia worked the circle superbly, confusing the space and opening up huge holes at the back, which were located with some precision long-range feeding.

After a low-key effort in Christchurch, Tutaia was in outstanding form, underlining her status as New Zealand's No 1 goal attack. Her long shot was superb and her court work and combination with the hard-driving Temepara George and centre Laura Langman was never less than slick.

Joline Henry at wing defence kept up an impressive work rate, as the Silver Ferns worked a stifling through-court defence which put pressure on every Jamaican pass.

After being put on notice by coach Connie Francis to lift their game following three big losses to Australia earlier this month, the Sunshine Girls battled but were smothered in the midcourt and struggled to find Aiken with any consistency.

Francis pulled Aiken's older sister, goal keep Nicole, as the second quarter neared an end, replacing her with youngster Malysha Kelly in a bid to stem the flow of ball finding its way into van Dyk and Tutaia. She also rejigged the midcourt later in the second stanza, making a raft of changes which still couldn't manage to contain the Silver Ferns.

Aitken made some judicious changes for the second half, Liana Barrett-Chase replacing Temepara George at wing attack, while Leana de Bruin came on at goal defence and Williams moved back to goal keep.

The combination took a little time to gel, and the Jamaicans lifted to match New Zealand almost goal for goal, losing the 15-minute spell 13-12 to trail

33-48 with 15 minutes to go.

Daneka Wipiiti came on for van Dyk for the final 15 minutes, reprising her Southern Steel combination with Barrett-Chase. Temepara George shifted back to centre as the hard-working Langman took a well-earned break.

The New Zealanders revelled in a glut of possession in the final 15 minutes, although Wipiiti's lack of netball in recent weeks showed in a disppointing 50 percent success rate with eight from 16.

Regardless, Aitken would have been happy to give the majority of her squad time on court ahead of the more testing three-match series against Australia beginning in Adelaide on August 29.

New Zealand 62 (Irene van Dyk 30/35, Maria Tutaia 24/31, Daneka Wipiiti 8/16) Jamaica 40 (Romelda Aiken 33/38, Anna Kaye Griffith 7/13). Halftime: 35-21

- NZPA