NZ Netball team remain unbeaten in Glasgow

 

The New Zealand Netball team have completed their third straight win at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Monday after posting a convincing 78-29 win over Northern Ireland.

 

With a new-look attack line of Laura Langman, Shannon Francois, Maria Tutaia and Jodi Brown, the New Zealanders took a little time to settle in the face of some spirited contesting from Northern Ireland.

Strong defensively throughout, the New Zealanders found the same measure of efficiency on attack later on in the match which featured a number of stoppages and failed to generate consistent flow or momentum from both sides.

The defending Commonwealth Games champions made changes when shooter Tutaia came off midway through the opening stanza. Halpenny was rested after New Zealand management opted to give her maximum recovery time for her ankle.

Cathrine Latu came off the bench into goal shooter while Brown moved to goal attack as the new shooting combination sparked a strong finishing burst from the New Zealanders.

Strong through-court defence couple with a growing confidence on attack propelled the New Zealanders into a solid 19-8 lead at the first break.

There was more urgency from the women in black on the resumption, the continued swarming defensive exploits from captain Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin creating turnover opportunities which Langman and Francois slickly deployed.

Stifling defence in their attacking third stalled Northern Ireland’s momentum but shooter Noleen Lennon made the most of her opportunities with a fine all-round display.

The playmaking Brown found plenty of space under the hoop as she and Latu continued their growing partnership with an accurate and efficient display as they shot New Zealand to a healthy 40-15 lead at the main break.

Anna Harrison (wing defence) and Katrina Grant (goal defence) were introduced to the New Zealand line-up for the second half with both teams struggling to find their flow during the third stanza.  Holding Northern Ireland to just six goals, the New Zealanders lead 57-21 into the final break.

In the final quarter Liana Leota replaced Francois at wing attack, and Francois moved to goal attack with Jodi Brown slotting into goal shoot.  New Zealand will now welcome a recovery day off before their next pool match against St Lucia.

 

New Zealand Netball Team v Northern Ireland

NZ quarter-time line-ups:

Player:	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Casey Kopua (captain)	GD	GD	-	-
Laura Langman (vice-captain)	C	C	C	C
Jodi Brown	GS/GA	GA	GA	GA/GS
Leana de Bruin	GK	GK	GK	GK
Shannon Francois	WA	WA	WA	WA/GA
Katrina Grant	-	-	GD	GD
Ellen Halpenny	-	-	-	-
Anna Harrison	-	-	WD	WD
Joline Henry	WD	WD	-	-
Cathrine Latu	GS (on)	GS	GS	GS (off)
Liana Leota	-	-	-	WA (on)
Maria Tutaia	GA (off)	-	-	-
Quarter Scores (NZ score first)	19-8	21-7	17-6	21-8
			FINAL SCORE	78-29

 

Shooting Statistics:

Player:	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	TOTALS
Jodi Brown	10/12	11/11	11/15	12/14	44/52 (85%)
Ellen Halpenny	-	-	-	-	-
Cathrine Latu	8/9	10/10	6/7	8/8	32/34 (94%)
Maria Tutaia	1/2 (50%)	-	-	-	1/2 (50%)
Shannon Francois	-	-	-	1/2	1/2 (50%)
				TEAM TOTAL	78/90 (87%)