Netball: Silver Ferns muscle up to square series

New Zealand 43 Australia 37

New Zealand's world champion Silver Ferns copped a physical pounding but avoided any deeper psychological scarring as they fought back to draw their three-test netball series 1-1 with arch rivals Australia - thanks to a stirring 43-37 victory in Auckland tonight.

The Silver Ferns, who dropped the opener 47-51 in Wellington on Thursday, regrouped before a capacity crowd at the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere to force a decider in Christchurch on Monday.

A dominant third quarter performance, where the Ferns were able to construct a decisive six-goal cushion, was instrumental in ending a two-match losing streak against the only obstacle to their world title defence in Fiji next July.

After trailing by just a single goal at quarter and halftime, the Ferns finally found a regular route through a staunch Australian defensive cordon to enable Irene Van Dyk and her excellent foil Maria Tutaia to pull the Ferns clear and produce New Zealand's first success in three attempts since their crushing 52-40 victory in Brisbane in July.

While the Ferns shooters applied the finishing touches to give themselves a 33-27 buffer, New Zealand's defence also held up superbly after halftime. They poached enough Australian possession to restrict shooters Sharelle McMahon and Susan Pratley to just eight attempts in the 15-minute period leading into the home straight.

New Zealand led by as many as nine early in the final quarter and although the margin was pegged back, they were never in danger of succumbing to a last-minute meltdown.

It was a typically willing contest from the first centre pass with bodies regularly clattering and dropping to the floor as both defences refused to yield.

Co-captain McMahon and Whangarei-born shooting partner Catherine Cox were early casualties as they were regularly knocked off their feet in the first "feeling out" period and their confrontation with Vilimaina Davu and Anna Scarlett clearly knocked Cox off her stride.

The only change to Norma Plummer's starting line-up from Wellington, Cox was replaced after quarter time after landing only five of her 10 attempts.

Her replacement Susan Pratley, who formed an impressible combination with McMahon in the first test, also made an edgy start -- botching her first two attempts. She never really found her range, making 12 from 19.

McMahon made a characteristically strong start, missing just one shot before halftime but she also suffered in the later stages, netting just seven of 15 for an overall return of 22 from 31 -- well below her customary success rate.

Australian bodies continued to crash around the court but Scarlett was the biggest casualty 2min 48sec from halftime when she was flattened by centre Natalie Von Bertouch.

The abrasive Aucklander, so often criticised for her aggressive approach, needed an ice pack on her head and was replaced by Leana de Bruin.

New Zealand jumped out of the blocks after the first centre pass and raced to a 3-0 lead before Australia fought back to claim the opener 10-9.

The Ferns also made a strong start to the second quarter, reeling off the first four goals but Australian again responded to hold a slender 20-19 halftime lead.

Tutaia and Van Dyk then assumed control, often due to slick service from player of the match and New Zealand skipper Adine Wilson and Temepara George.

Van Dyk was shaded by Tutaia in the first spell but came into her own after the main break to lead the New Zealand effort with 25 (from 27).

With the South African well marked in first half, her 19-year-old attacking partner was a crucial and effective alternative, especially from long range and ended the game with 18 from 24.

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said her side concentrated on their speed through the court on attack and teamwork on defence.

"We wanted to ensure on attack that we moved that ball, we were much better in that pass and go, and on defence we just had to work together to cope with the speed - that's what we needed," she said.

"Leanne (de Bruin) came on beautifully (as replacement for Anna Scarlett). We're very blessed with defensive talent and to be able to make that change that worked so well - that was fantastic."

New Zealand captain Adine Wilson said her team switched to a zone defence in the second half, which had been effective at slowing down the Australian game.

On attack, the Silver Ferns also grew in confidence.

"There's never a problem if we just let the ball go," Wilson said.

"We like to take risks and play at speed, I think that's when we're at our best."

Australian counterpart Liz Ellis couldn't put her finger on why their fortunes dived tonight but said her side would give their all in Christchurch.

"We'll go back and we'll look at where we turned the ball over, we'll look at where we let the ball come down the court too quickly and we'll look at where we gave penalties away," Ellis said.

"Hopefully we can step up and be a lot more consistent in attack and defence in the last match."

- NZPA