Netball: Slow starting Silver Ferns win quarterfinal

Maria Tutaia of New Zealand shoots at goal. Photo / Getty Images

Silver Ferns 58
South Africa 28

The Silver Ferns overcame a sub-par first quarter to ease out to a 58-28 win over South Africa in their quarterfinal at the world netball championship in Singapore tonight.

Down by one after 15 minutes against a feisty South African outfit, New Zealand rediscovered their drive to shut out each subsequent quarter for the comfortable win.

New Zealand captain Casey Williams acknowledged her team's start was less than ideal.

"We didn't go out there and do things with a purpose, make things happen," she said afterwards.

Some pointed instructions at the break from coach Ruth Aitken had refocused concentration, Williams said.

"It was just having that little bit of urgency and making things happen - pretty much getting out there and doing the basics well."

Aitken said the Silver Ferns hadn't managed to replicate the strong starts that had been a feature of pool play.

"We looked like a team that had had a day off - that won't happen again!

"We took a little bit of time to adjust, but it was always about getting back to the basics, and that's what happened," she told NZPA afterwards.

The Silver Ferns meet England in tomorrow's semifinal after they despatched Northern Ireland 87-16 in a quarterfinal earlier today.

Sheer weight of possession won the match for the Silver Ferns - they had 76 shots on goal - but accuracy wasn't a strength, with New Zealand shooting an underwhelming 76 per cent to South Africa's marginally less impressive 74 per cent.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken tweaked her attacking line-up, Liana Leota taking the court at centre with Temepara George in the more unaccustomed wing attack's role and Anna Scarlett at wing defence.

Nothing seemed to work for the Silver Ferns in the opening stanza, a disjointed and scrappy effort reflected in a high turnover rate and ordinary shooting.

South African circle defenders Leigh Ann Zackey and captain Amanda Mynhardt kept Silver Ferns starting shooters Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia under real pressure, forcing five misses in the opening 10 minutes.

Tutaia in particular looked off song, her customary coolness missing as she struggled to find the hoop.

At the other end of the court, South African shooters Maryka Holtzhausen and Claudia Basson were in good touch, converting turnover ball into points for an 11-10 lead after 15 minutes.

It was the first time the New Zealanders had trailed at this world championship, after three overwhelming wins in pool play earlier in the week.

The second spell saw a much improved effort, with George reverting to centre and Leota pushing out to the wing. Former South African international Liana de Bruin came on at goal defence, with captain Casey Williams falling back to goal keep in place of Katrina Grant.

Playing with more speed through the middle and variation into the circle, the Silver Ferns looked a different team.

Van Dyk's increased movement offered more options in the circle, and she took on more shooting duties to allow Tutaia time to work her way back into touch.

The end result saw the New Zealanders take the quarter 17-6 for a 27-17 halftime lead.

Aitken continued her policy of using her entire bench, bringing on Laura Langman at centre for the final 30 minutes.

Paula Griffin came in at goal shoot for van Dyk, and there was a new-look back three with Joline Henry at wing defence and Grant back on at goal keep.

The Silver Ferns maintained momentum, even after Anna Thompson replaced Tutaia at goal attack late in the spell, and took out the quarter 15-6 to lead 42-23 with 15 minutes remaining.

As the match wore on, the South Africans tired and New Zealand's sheer pace through the midcourt left them struggling right to the final whistle.

South Africa have met New Zealand 18 times since 1995, and won just once. The 59-57 victory still rankles, the semifinal win knocking New Zealand out of the 1995 world championship in Manchester, England.

Leading the charge for South Africa then was promising 23-year-old shooter Irene van Dyk, who emigrated to New Zealand soon after and has since racked up 123 caps for the Silver Ferns since her 2000 debut.

The two teams last met at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, with New Zealand cruising to a 41-goal win.

- NZPA