Silver Ferns smash Australia

MICHAEL BRADLEY

DETERMINATION: Silver Ferns Laura Langman in action against Australia in Wellington during the second trans-Tasman test.

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An outstanding all-round defensive effort and a deadly shooting circle combined to give New Zealand a 59-40 win over Australia in the second test in this year's trans-Tasman netball series.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken was able to use 11 of her 12-strong bench, and each player contributed to a hugely satisfying victory after Sunday's first-up loss in Adelaide.

The first quarter could by no stretch of the imagination have been called error-free, but what it lacked in fluidity it made up for in intensity, both teams fighting for every scrap of possession.

Both coaches made judicious changes from the first test, won 48-43 by Australia after the New Zealanders faded in the closing five minutes.

Aitken gave returning defender Anna Scarlett her first start in the big time for over three years, pairing her at goal keep with captain Casey Williams roaming wider at goal defence.

Other than that, the Silver Ferns line-up mirrored that from Adelaide, Temepara George and Laura Langman marshalling the midcourt with Joline Henry at wing defence, and Irene van Dyk paired again with Maria Tutaia.

Australia's Norma Plummer adjusted her shooting circle, bringing Catherine Cox in at goal shoot and captain Sharelle McMahon shifting out to her more favoured goal attack position. Kimberlee Green started at wing attack instead of Lauren Nourse, but the remainder of the Diamonds' line-up remained the same.

Although the New Zealanders' start was slow - Australia snapped up the first two goals - they soon hit their stride, playing with precision and at pace, offering plenty of movement off the ball and forcing turnovers aplenty with superb full-court defensive pressure.

By the end of the first quarter, the Silver Ferns led 16-11. Australia had converted all their shots on goal while the New Zealanders had been less accurate but far more effective in dominating possession and had put up 20 attempts.

The Silver Ferns' momentum forced a victory of sorts, as Plummer brought on Sunday's game-breaker in 1.96m goal keep Susan Fuhrmann for the second quarter. But where van Dyk faded under the physical pressure four days ago, tonight she stepped up and proved unflappable.

Helping that composure in no small part was a superb performance from Tutaia, under considerable pressure from Mo'onia Gerrard at goal defence. Tutaia sunk 10 from 11 for the second 15-minute spell, while van Dyk converted five from six.

Rendered largely ineffective, Gerrard was replaced at halftime by Bec Bulley, as the New Zealanders went into the halftime break with a frankly astonishing 31-19 lead.

The Silver Ferns made a replacement of their own, resting the hard-working van Dyk and bringing on Daneka Wipiiti, a brave move considering the Southern Steel shooter's recent lack of game time.

But Wipiiti stepped up superbly, moving well against Fuhrmann, and sinking some superb long distance shots to keep the scoreline ticking over. By the end of the spell, she had converted 10 of 12 of her shots on goal, and the Australians were looking increasingly ragged.

Ahead 45-30 at the three-quarter mark, the New Zealand coaches again rang the changes, subbing off Scarlett, who had been outstanding, and bringing on the rangy Leana de Bruin at goal keep. Liana Barrett-Chase took over the wing attack's bib, and the Silver Ferns machine rolled on, with Langman and George offering variety and an eagle eye for the gap in their feeding of the circle.

Plummer resorted to fielding a NSW Swifts line-up in an effort to stem haemorrhage of goals - Kim Green at centre, Sue Pratley at goal attack, and the hard-working Cox remained at goal shoot.

It made no difference. The Silver Ferns were unstoppable, their 19-goal win providing a huge confidence boost ahead of their Commonwealth Games title defence in New Delhi next month.

New Zealand 59 (Irene van Dyk 15/17, Maria Tutaia 24/32, Daneka Wipiiti 18/25, Grace Rasmussen 2/3) Australia 40 (Catherine Cox 27/31, Sharelle McMahon 9/12, Sue Pratley 4/5),

Halftime: 31-19