The rivalry: NZL crowned world’s best in ‘03
Today we look back on the 2003 Netball World Cup when the Silver Ferns were crowned World Champions - a title they hadn’t won since 1987…
Be there when Netball’s greatest rivalry returns to New Zealand soil when the Silver Ferns take on the Diamonds in the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup – GET TICKETS!
Ferns’ determination and preparation gets reward
By Julie Ash
The New Zealand Herald
The gruelling training sessions in the heat chambers with Bob Marley blaring out of the sound speakers all seem worth it now that the Silver Ferns are World Champions.
With all of Jamaica’s Independence Stadium behind them, New Zealand put in a stunning performance to defeat defending champions Australia, 49-47, today.
“It is amazing, just amazing,” were Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken’s first words.
“They just kept on keeping on.”
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Leading up to the final, it was hard to gauge how the New Zealanders would fare against the mighty Australians, who had won, or shared, eight of the past 10 World Championships.
New Zealand had charged through their pool matches unbeaten before trouncing Samoa, 81-28, in the quarter-finals and then routing hometown favourites Jamaica, 56-37, in the semi-finals.
It was after that semi-final match that the drums started beating with the realisation that this New Zealand team could be special. However, it was always understood the real test would come when they lined up against the defending world champions.
This time New Zealand didn’t disappoint and all seven players threw everything they had into the game.
New Zealand goal defence Sheryl Clarke and Australian goal attack Sharelle McMahon were on top of each other throughout the game, proving that netball’s tag as a non-contact sport is long gone.
Clarke’s persistency paid off late in the game and her clean intercept in the dying stages more or less cemented the win.
Vilimaina Davu, who has charged through the tournament like a woman possessed, was also on top of her game.
Despite her gentle nature, it was clear early on that no one was going to stop Davu from getting her hands on that Cup.
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The exceptionally fit Lesley Nicol, playing in her 103rd game for New Zealand, put in a gutsy performance as did captain Anna Rowberry and Temepara Clark in the midcourt, while Belinda Colling and Irene van Dyk performed faultlessly under the hoop.
New Zealand knew they had to deliver and they did.
Going into the tournament no other team were better prepared or more determined than the Silver Ferns, which can be attributed to the work of Aiken, assistant Leigh Gibbs and their staff.
This was New Zealand’s year.
As Davu put it: “We deserved it and we really wanted it.”
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