NZLvAUS: the rivalry continues
September 25, 2015
Dame Lois Muir flies high to take an intercept in the Silver Ferns first victory over Australia in Adelaide © Netball New Zealand Archives
Can you imagine 12 years without a Test Match between the Silver Ferns and Diamonds?
No Irene van Dyk versus Liz Ellis tussle, or Ruth Aitken versus Norma Plummer, not even Belinda Colling versus Kath Harby-Williams.
Well between 1948 and 1960 that was exactly what happened! 12 years where Netball’s greatest rivalry didn’t happen…
The rivalry resumed in 1960…
See the Silver Ferns take on the Diamonds in the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup – GET TICKETS!
‘A long rivalry filled with much drama’ (continued…)
By Dana Johannsen
READ MORE: Part One
In August 1960, a New Zealand-representative team embarked on their first tour of Australia in 22 years, and in doing so, became pioneers for a new era of the game.
Coached by Dixie Cockerton, the 10-strong squad was the first to play an international Test Series in the modern era, sowing the seeds of a fierce trans-Tasman rivalry that had been sporadic since the inaugural contest in 1938.
The team had to raise the funds for the tour themselves, some ignoring the social norms of the time by leaving their husbands at home to look after the children while they attended their fundraisers and committee meetings to plan the tour, which involved three Tests and 12 games.
Dame Lois Muir, along with other greats of the era, June Waititi and Betty Steffensen, were on the team that embarked on the historic tour.
Dame Lois said the significance of the tour was not lost on the group.
“We were the forerunners because there hadn’t been a New Zealand team picked for many, many years and no one had sort of had to do that travel and play,” she said.
“We were the new breed wearing that Silver Fern -- it was a great honour. And I think we took on we were, not disciples so much, but we were representing something that was pretty important going forward.”
Dame Lois still has the scrapbook which boasts all the memorabilia from that first ground-breaking tour.
Included in her book of keepsakes, her original ticket to Sydney -- “53 pounds and seven shillings for a return fare, I remember it cost me”, along with photos, match day programmes, and telegrams wishing her and the team good luck.
And she remembers the nervous excitement on that sunny but crisp Adelaide day when they took the grass court for the first time in a Test Match against Australia.
“We played on the centre tennis court in Adelaide, and that was beautiful,” she said. “We were so excited to be playing with people in the grandstand -- we thought we were made!”
New Zealand went on to win the match, 49-40, but lost their second Test in Melbourne, 39-44, and suffered a heart-breaking one-goal loss in the final Test -- a result with which New Zealand sides were to become familiar with over the ensuring years.
Still, the team took great satisfaction from their results given they had only been playing the new version of the game for such a short time.
Follow the Silver Ferns on the road to the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup by joining the team as a SilverFan! As a SilverFan you’ll get exclusive content, special offers and a members’-only e-newsletter. Join the team, become a SilverFan today!
No Irene van Dyk versus Liz Ellis tussle, or Ruth Aitken versus Norma Plummer, not even Belinda Colling versus Kath Harby-Williams.
Well between 1948 and 1960 that was exactly what happened! 12 years where Netball’s greatest rivalry didn’t happen…
The rivalry resumed in 1960…
See the Silver Ferns take on the Diamonds in the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup – GET TICKETS!
‘A long rivalry filled with much drama’ (continued…)
By Dana Johannsen
READ MORE: Part One
In August 1960, a New Zealand-representative team embarked on their first tour of Australia in 22 years, and in doing so, became pioneers for a new era of the game.
Coached by Dixie Cockerton, the 10-strong squad was the first to play an international Test Series in the modern era, sowing the seeds of a fierce trans-Tasman rivalry that had been sporadic since the inaugural contest in 1938.
The team had to raise the funds for the tour themselves, some ignoring the social norms of the time by leaving their husbands at home to look after the children while they attended their fundraisers and committee meetings to plan the tour, which involved three Tests and 12 games.
Dame Lois Muir, along with other greats of the era, June Waititi and Betty Steffensen, were on the team that embarked on the historic tour.
Dame Lois said the significance of the tour was not lost on the group.
“We were the forerunners because there hadn’t been a New Zealand team picked for many, many years and no one had sort of had to do that travel and play,” she said.
“We were the new breed wearing that Silver Fern -- it was a great honour. And I think we took on we were, not disciples so much, but we were representing something that was pretty important going forward.”
Dame Lois still has the scrapbook which boasts all the memorabilia from that first ground-breaking tour.
Included in her book of keepsakes, her original ticket to Sydney -- “53 pounds and seven shillings for a return fare, I remember it cost me”, along with photos, match day programmes, and telegrams wishing her and the team good luck.
And she remembers the nervous excitement on that sunny but crisp Adelaide day when they took the grass court for the first time in a Test Match against Australia.
“We played on the centre tennis court in Adelaide, and that was beautiful,” she said. “We were so excited to be playing with people in the grandstand -- we thought we were made!”
New Zealand went on to win the match, 49-40, but lost their second Test in Melbourne, 39-44, and suffered a heart-breaking one-goal loss in the final Test -- a result with which New Zealand sides were to become familiar with over the ensuring years.
Still, the team took great satisfaction from their results given they had only been playing the new version of the game for such a short time.
Follow the Silver Ferns on the road to the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup by joining the team as a SilverFan! As a SilverFan you’ll get exclusive content, special offers and a members’-only e-newsletter. Join the team, become a SilverFan today!