KEY POINTS:
New Zealand goal shoot Irene van Dyk has waited a long time to shoot the perfect international netball game - 162 test matches, to be precise.
The 36-year-old South African-born Silver Fern couldn't have chosen a better game to hit 100 per cent than Saturday's third and deciding
test against England at Palmerston North's Arena Manawatu, won in style 61-22 by New Zealand.
It was her 90th test for the Silver Ferns, following on from 72 for South Africa.
New Zealand were under intense pressure after plunging from last Monday's first test 65-26 win in Auckland to a 38-40 second test loss in Dunedin two days later.
With England on a roll, poised to win their first series against New Zealand, something special was needed on Saturday.
And while van Dyk provided it in sinking all of her 41 attempts on goal, she said the win was only achieved through a concentrated team effort.
"It was an absolutely fantastic game - the whole team played beautiful netball," van Dyk said.
"This time we had the urgency. We knew we'd played poorly in Dunedin, it was probably one of our worst performances ever."
Smarting after that mediocre effort, the Silver Ferns were all class in annihilating England on Saturday.
The win was secured after a stunning second quarter blitz which saw them rack up 22 goals to England's two, and go into the halftime break up 36-10.
"We came out hungry for the ball," van Dyk said.
"We wanted to display the skill levels we have. Wednesday was just a dud, but that's what happens in sport sometimes and the harder you try to change it the less it happens.
"We didn't lose our skill levels between Monday and Wednesday, and we didn't just find them again on Saturday. In Dunedin, everyone ran into everyone else's space - we all played as individuals."
Such was van Dyk's concentration on Saturday, she had no idea she'd hit 100 per cent of her shots until the game was well over.
"Sometimes when I shoot a goal and the defence rebounds the ball or hits it out, that counts as a miss.
"I didn't even think about it until I looked into the stands and I saw my husband Christie standing there holding up 10 fingers. Then I knew - it was wonderful!"
The achievement was especially sweet after the Dunedin loss, where van Dyk - playing at goal attack for three-quarters of the game - shot a distinctly average 78 per cent.
"But as I said to the team last night, 100 per cent is fantastic but it didn't just happen on its own."
Although the Silver Ferns were missing captain and pivotal midcourter Julie Seymour due to an achilles injury, players such as stand-in captain Laura Langman and wing attack Maree Bowden really stepped up, van Dyk said.
"Maree ran some beautiful lines, and Laura balanced the court really nicely. They did some great work getting the ball in."
New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken, who had continued to experiment with van Dyk at goal attack, started the star player at goal shoot on Saturday and the move paid dividends right from the first whistle.
Van Dyk admits she was a lot happier too.
"That's where I'm comfortable, I know what I'm doing and I know how to irritate the goal keep and goal defence as much as I can. It's my comfort zone."
Goal attack Maria Tutaia was also doing her bit to annoy the defence, hitting excellent form with both in her work up the court and in some sublime long-range shooting, especially in the first half.
"Maria was absolutely brilliant. To play against (England goal defence) Sonia Mkoloma and come out that strong, and shoot like that was awesome," van Dyk said.
However, she acknowledges the Silver Ferns will have to raise their game another notch as they head across the Tasman later this week for their final two tests of the year against Australia, beginning on Sunday in Melbourne.
Honours were shared with one game apiece when the Australians toured here last month.
Australian coach Norma Plummer has been an interested spectator at all three New Zealand tests against England, although just what she made of the Silver Ferns' hot and cold efforts remains to be seen.
"We've given her a lot to ponder on ..." van Dyk said.
- NZPA
