Silver Ferns top Pool A with gutsy win over Australia
August 9, 2015
On the back of an outstanding team effort, the Silver Ferns upset the Australian Diamonds 52-47 to break a 21 match-winning streak by the defending champions, and to top Pool A at Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015 on Sunday.
It was the first win for the Silver Ferns over their arch rivals since 2013 and set the New Zealanders up well for the next phase of the event, the top eight qualification games, starting on Tuesday.
The match provided all the intensity and emotion of a final with World Cup newcomers Kayla Cullen, Grace Rasmussen and Bailey Mes proving inspiring figures for the Silver Ferns. And for captain Casey Kopua it was a breakthrough match, completing the long haul back from serious injury 10 months ago to deliver a standout performance in the custodian’s role.
After much conjecture in the build-up to who would earn the contentious spots in the Silver Ferns line-up to face the Diamonds, Maria Tutaia and Mes formed the shooting combination, Cullen filled the wing defence spot and Katrina Grant picked up the goal defence bib.
In a slight surprise, Sharni Layton got the nod at goal defence ahead of Julie Corletto for Australia.
From the outset, the match was a riveting contest, the game opening in fast and furious fashion which continued unabated until the final whistle. The new-look Silver Ferns revelled in playing the game at pace, slick handling and movement on attack complemented by an equally impressive start by Mes, who time and again showcased her athletic prowess and shooting ability under the hoop.
The Diamonds were equally adept at delivering pin-point ball to towering shooter Caitlin Bassett as the teams went goal-for-goal. Big defensive pressure was a hallmark of both teams but the back three of Cullen, Grant and Kopua provided extra opportunities for the Silver Ferns to forge a 15-12 lead at the first break.
Australia came out firing on the resumption, Corletto replacing Layton as the defending champions scored the first three goals to level the scores. With no quarter given, there was some outstanding passages of brilliance from both teams, the full court defence of the Silver Ferns, however, hindering Australia ’s penetration and lack of momentum.
After a slow start, Tutaia came into her own, dominating space and relying on her signature style of being able to sink goals from all points of the circle. Langman was at her mercurial best through the midcourt, Rasmussen strong in taking the ball and feeding the circle while Kopua showcased her pedigree with a standout performance.
With the lead changing hands several times during an action-packed second stanza, the Silver Ferns continued to flex their collective muscle, gaining extra turnover ball to maintain their three-goal advantage when leading 29-26 at the main break.
Leana de Bruin took over from Grant for the Silver Ferns while the Diamonds made big changes for the second half, Corletto going to wing defence, Layton back on at goal defence with goal attack Erin Bell also pressed into service later when taking over from Natalie Medhurst.
The defensive pressure went up several notches from both teams in a frantic third quarter. The game lost none of its intensity and excitement despite losing some of its structure as the great rivals went toe-to-toe.
Along with the Silver Ferns stifling full-court defence, Kopua, de Bruin and Cullen were key figures in shutting down the dangerous Bassett. The usually machine-like shooter was restricted to just five goals during the third spell as the Silver Ferns powered to a 40-34 lead at the last break.
Stretching their margin to as many as eight, the Silver Ferns held their poise and nerve down the home straight as the Diamonds twice drew within three.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scores
SILVER FERNS│ Q1: 15 – Q2: 29 (14) – Q3: 40 (11) – Q4: 52 (12)
AUSTRALIA│ Q1: 12 – Q2: 26 (14) – Q3: 34 (8) – Q4: 47 (13)
Shooting Statistics
SILVER FERNS: 52/69 @75%
Mes: 18/21 @ 86%
Tutaia: 34/48 @ 71%
AUSTRALIA: 47/57 @ 82%
Bassett: 38/43 @ 88%
Medhurst: 6/7 @ 86%
Bell: 3/7 @ 43%
Starting Line-ups
SILVER FERNS: GS Mes, GA Tutaia, WA Rasmussen, C Langman, WD Cullen, GD Grant, GK Kopua
AUSTRALIA: GS Bassett, GA Medhurst, WA Green, C Ravaillion, WD Hallinan, GD Layton, GK Geitz
Positional Changes
SILVER FERNS
Q3 – GD de Bruin
AUSTRALIA
Q2 – GD Corletto
Q3 – GD Layton, WD Corletto,
Q3 (T/O) - GA Bell
Q4 – WA Hadley
It was the first win for the Silver Ferns over their arch rivals since 2013 and set the New Zealanders up well for the next phase of the event, the top eight qualification games, starting on Tuesday.
The match provided all the intensity and emotion of a final with World Cup newcomers Kayla Cullen, Grace Rasmussen and Bailey Mes proving inspiring figures for the Silver Ferns. And for captain Casey Kopua it was a breakthrough match, completing the long haul back from serious injury 10 months ago to deliver a standout performance in the custodian’s role.
After much conjecture in the build-up to who would earn the contentious spots in the Silver Ferns line-up to face the Diamonds, Maria Tutaia and Mes formed the shooting combination, Cullen filled the wing defence spot and Katrina Grant picked up the goal defence bib.
In a slight surprise, Sharni Layton got the nod at goal defence ahead of Julie Corletto for Australia.
From the outset, the match was a riveting contest, the game opening in fast and furious fashion which continued unabated until the final whistle. The new-look Silver Ferns revelled in playing the game at pace, slick handling and movement on attack complemented by an equally impressive start by Mes, who time and again showcased her athletic prowess and shooting ability under the hoop.
The Diamonds were equally adept at delivering pin-point ball to towering shooter Caitlin Bassett as the teams went goal-for-goal. Big defensive pressure was a hallmark of both teams but the back three of Cullen, Grant and Kopua provided extra opportunities for the Silver Ferns to forge a 15-12 lead at the first break.
After a slow start, Tutaia came into her own, dominating space and relying on her signature style of being able to sink goals from all points of the circle. Langman was at her mercurial best through the midcourt, Rasmussen strong in taking the ball and feeding the circle while Kopua showcased her pedigree with a standout performance.
With the lead changing hands several times during an action-packed second stanza, the Silver Ferns continued to flex their collective muscle, gaining extra turnover ball to maintain their three-goal advantage when leading 29-26 at the main break.
Leana de Bruin took over from Grant for the Silver Ferns while the Diamonds made big changes for the second half, Corletto going to wing defence, Layton back on at goal defence with goal attack Erin Bell also pressed into service later when taking over from Natalie Medhurst.
The defensive pressure went up several notches from both teams in a frantic third quarter. The game lost none of its intensity and excitement despite losing some of its structure as the great rivals went toe-to-toe.
Along with the Silver Ferns stifling full-court defence, Kopua, de Bruin and Cullen were key figures in shutting down the dangerous Bassett. The usually machine-like shooter was restricted to just five goals during the third spell as the Silver Ferns powered to a 40-34 lead at the last break.
Stretching their margin to as many as eight, the Silver Ferns held their poise and nerve down the home straight as the Diamonds twice drew within three.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scores
SILVER FERNS│ Q1: 15 – Q2: 29 (14) – Q3: 40 (11) – Q4: 52 (12)
AUSTRALIA│ Q1: 12 – Q2: 26 (14) – Q3: 34 (8) – Q4: 47 (13)
Shooting Statistics
SILVER FERNS: 52/69 @75%
Mes: 18/21 @ 86%
Tutaia: 34/48 @ 71%
AUSTRALIA: 47/57 @ 82%
Bassett: 38/43 @ 88%
Medhurst: 6/7 @ 86%
Bell: 3/7 @ 43%
Starting Line-ups
SILVER FERNS: GS Mes, GA Tutaia, WA Rasmussen, C Langman, WD Cullen, GD Grant, GK Kopua
AUSTRALIA: GS Bassett, GA Medhurst, WA Green, C Ravaillion, WD Hallinan, GD Layton, GK Geitz
Positional Changes
SILVER FERNS
Q3 – GD de Bruin
AUSTRALIA
Q2 – GD Corletto
Q3 – GD Layton, WD Corletto,
Q3 (T/O) - GA Bell
Q4 – WA Hadley