The Silver Ferns celebrate with the trophy after their series victory over England. Photo / Photosport
The Silver Ferns have capped off 2025 with a 2-1 series win over the England Roses on their Northern Tour, avenging last year’s series loss at home.
New Zealand have taken game three 55-49 in Manchester, with the scoreline having swung like a pendulum for most of the contest.
The result was highlighted by a dominant performance at goal keep from vice captain Kelly Jackson and another strong contribution from wing defence Kate Heffernan in her 50th test.
The senior players led by example, picking off two intercepts apiece and a handful of deflections.
After wreaking havoc in the England circle in the latter stages, Jackson told Sky Sports she loved the game.
“I think we were really disappointed with that loss the other day. It’s been a big three months for us, and we really just wanted to finish on a high.”
Jackson said she and skipper Karin Burger are fortunate to have many seasons under their belt.
“I’ve been playing with her for five, six years now. I love joining back up with her in the international season. So lucky also to play behind Kate [Heffernan] and Maddy [Gordon]. They’re awesome players.”
Interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie revealed the Ferns had been struggling with illness in the lead-up.
“Incredibly proud. It’s been a tough couple of days just getting them physically back in after illness. Great series.
“As soon as we finished the last game, we had a number of them going at both ends, and so we’ve just got them back right this morning. We thought if we could hold in there for one more game.”
In her final test in charge, McCausland-Durie looked to have settled on her top lineup, making no changes.
In contrast, England coach Jess Thirlby made numerous adjustments at both ends of the court, but failed to find a combination which could consistently rattle New Zealand.
Neither side could settle in the first quarter, with both shooting ends missing what would usually be regulation shots.
England started strongly, forcing an early turnover and taking a two-goal lead. Burger uncharacteristically dropped the ball early, but defensive pressure from Jackson on Liv Tchine forced a miss from the England goal shoot.
Wing defence Kate Heffernan continued her strong vein of form, reeling in an intercept from a loose Helen Housby pass, and the Ferns assumed the lead.
The scoreline continued to swing back and forth, as Grace Nweke missed her first shot since game one of the series from right under the post, returning the edge to the Roses. Nweke missed her second moments later, putting up her hand to apologise to her teammates.
The frustration continued for the 1.92-metre shooter, who gave away an offensive contact penalty in the circle. England finished the first quarter leading 14-11.
Roses coach Thirlby was unimpressed, demanding more from her players in the break. Her mood would not have improved after Ferns centre Gordon picked off a clean intercept to start the second stanza.
Jackson got in on the intercept action, but Nweke again missed next to the post.
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan was reliable at wing attack and lobbed some eye-catching passes into Nweke from range.
A miscommunication between Tchine and Housby saw the ball spill out of bounds, and New Zealand moved ahead by two once more. Nweke’s struggles continued, however, called for another offensive contact.
Substitute goal attack Lois Pearson missed England’s final attempt of the second quarter, which New Zealand won 16-11. The Ferns went into halftime leading 27-25.
The third quarter was crunch time for the Silver Ferns, who had lost their previous six against the Roses. With Tchine on the bench, Housby took on the bulk of the shooting for England and helped them draw level to start.
Jackson picked off her second intercept of the game, and the Ferns edged their noses in front once more.
New Zealand goal attack Georgia Heffernan found plenty of space in and out of the circle, as the England defenders opted to double-team Nweke.
At the other end, Pearson’s shooting form caught fire, and the Ferns’ two-goal halftime lead turned into a two-goal deficit.
Kate Heffernan snatched an intercept on England’s circle edge, and when Pearson was penalised for a replayed ball minutes later, New Zealand had assumed control and finally ended their third-quarter troubles.
The Silver Ferns won the third stanza 15-13 for a 42-38 lead with 15 minutes to play. If the defensive pressure was huge through the first three quarters, it only increased at the death.
Roses goal defence Funmi Fudoju picked an early deflection off a Gordon pass into Nweke. Jackson returned fire with her third intercept, but substitute England goal keep Halimat Adio then snatched one of her own.
An unusual miss from Housby and an offensive contact call against replacement goal shoot Sasha Glasgow saw New Zealand’s lead suddenly leap out to seven. With six minutes to play, the win looked secured.
With Jackson continuing to pick up deflections, England struggled to get any fluidity going. The Silver Ferns held their own centre pass and won the fourth quarter 13-11.
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.