Slick start for Silver Ferns World Cup opener
August 7, 2015
Building throughout, the Silver Ferns delivered a polished 73-28 win against the Barbados Gems to open their Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015 campaign on Friday.
On the first day of pool play at the 14th edition of the sport’s showpiece event, the Silver Ferns would be happy to get the nerves and the first game out of the way. There was plenty to admire from the Silver Ferns who will look to continue to improve as the tournament progresses.
Against the ninth-rankedBarbados , the Silver Ferns coped well with the unfamiliar style, many of the younger players getting their first opportunity at a World Cup event against an unpredictable opponent.
With all 12 players getting a run, there were no surprises for the Silver Ferns who continued to consolidate their new-look combinations which again showed solid signs of improvement.
Following her recent trend, coach Waimarama Taumaunu started energetic midcourter Laura Langman at wing defence in her 120th consecutive test with Shannon Francois picking up the centre’s bib.
Pulling off some slick through court play, the Silver Ferns got off to a flyer, the quick interplay between Grace Rasmussen, Maria Tutaia and Bailey Mes opening up a handy early lead.
Lively in-circle defender Shonette Azore Bruce and midcourter Kizzy Marville did a good job of halting the Silver Ferns momentum after several times getting their hands to turnover ball. However, the New Zealanders halted a mid-quarter lull with a strong finishing burst to take a healthy 21-7 lead into the first break.
Barbados had the better of the opening exchanges on the resumption, showing more patience on attack while applying enough defensive pressure to stall the Silver Ferns flow.
The Silver Ferns responded with a big defensive lift to keepBarbados scoreless for long periods while regaining their momentum on attack. The Caribbean team struggled to retain possession and poise while the Silver Ferns sparked back into life with a succession of unanswered goals.
Langman had a strong outing with her defensive play while directing the through court attacking raids as the Silver Ferns headed into the main break with a 36-13 lead.
There were wholesale changes for the Silver Ferns for the second half. Langman moved into her more traditional role of centre while Rasmussen remained at wing attack as the only two to remain of the original line-up.
The changes took a little time to settle asBarbados produced a strong opening to the third stanza with an improved transition into their attacking third. There were some untidy moments from the Silver Ferns but they gradually stamped their class on the quarter.
Leana de Bruin, joined a select group of players to take their place in a fifth world event, and young defender Phoenix Karaka left their mark with a clutch of turnover ball.
At the other end the connections between Rasmussen, Jodi Brown and Malia Paseka began to pay dividends. Sharp ball movement, flair and finishing helped the Silver Ferns regain the upper hand, Langman and Rasmussen proving pivotal figures as the New Zealanders swept to a 53-24 lead at the last break.
In the groove, the same seven upped the tempo in the run home, delivering a telling final quarter across all facets to put the seal on the Silver Ferns World Cup opener.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scores
SILVER FERNS│ Q1: 21 – Q2: 36 (15) – Q3: 53 (17) – Q4: 73 (20)
BARBADOS│ Q1: 7 – Q2: 13 (6) – Q3: 24 (11) – Q4: 28 (4)
Shooting Statistics
SILVER FERNS: 73/96 @ 76%
Mes: 24/31 @ 77%
Tutaia: 12/15 @ 80%
Paseka: 28/38 @74%
Brown: 9/12 @ 75%
BARBADOS: 28/33 @85%
Wharton: 14/16 @ 88%
Piggott: 6/6 @100%
Thomas: 4/6 @67%
Sealy: 4/5 @ 80%
Starting Line-ups
SILVER FERNS│ GS Mes, GA Tutaia, WA Rasmussen, C Francois, WD Langman, GD Grant, GK Kopua
BARBADOS│ GS Wharton, GA Piggott, WA Smith, C Blackman, WD Marville, GD Niles, GK Bruce
Positional Changes
SILVER FERNS
Q3 – GS Paseka, GA Brown, C Langman, WD Cullen, GD de Bruin, GK Karaka
BARBADOS
Q3 – GD Rock, WD Niles, GA Thomas, WA Brown
Q3 (T/O) - GS Piggott
Q4 – WA Seale, GS Wharton
Q4 (T/O) - GS Sealy
On the first day of pool play at the 14th edition of the sport’s showpiece event, the Silver Ferns would be happy to get the nerves and the first game out of the way. There was plenty to admire from the Silver Ferns who will look to continue to improve as the tournament progresses.
Against the ninth-ranked
With all 12 players getting a run, there were no surprises for the Silver Ferns who continued to consolidate their new-look combinations which again showed solid signs of improvement.
Following her recent trend, coach Waimarama Taumaunu started energetic midcourter Laura Langman at wing defence in her 120th consecutive test with Shannon Francois picking up the centre’s bib.
Pulling off some slick through court play, the Silver Ferns got off to a flyer, the quick interplay between Grace Rasmussen, Maria Tutaia and Bailey Mes opening up a handy early lead.
Lively in-circle defender Shonette Azore Bruce and midcourter Kizzy Marville did a good job of halting the Silver Ferns momentum after several times getting their hands to turnover ball. However, the New Zealanders halted a mid-quarter lull with a strong finishing burst to take a healthy 21-7 lead into the first break.
Barbados had the better of the opening exchanges on the resumption, showing more patience on attack while applying enough defensive pressure to stall the Silver Ferns flow.
The Silver Ferns responded with a big defensive lift to keep
Langman had a strong outing with her defensive play while directing the through court attacking raids as the Silver Ferns headed into the main break with a 36-13 lead.
There were wholesale changes for the Silver Ferns for the second half. Langman moved into her more traditional role of centre while Rasmussen remained at wing attack as the only two to remain of the original line-up.
The changes took a little time to settle as
Leana de Bruin, joined a select group of players to take their place in a fifth world event, and young defender Phoenix Karaka left their mark with a clutch of turnover ball.
At the other end the connections between Rasmussen, Jodi Brown and Malia Paseka began to pay dividends. Sharp ball movement, flair and finishing helped the Silver Ferns regain the upper hand, Langman and Rasmussen proving pivotal figures as the New Zealanders swept to a 53-24 lead at the last break.
In the groove, the same seven upped the tempo in the run home, delivering a telling final quarter across all facets to put the seal on the Silver Ferns World Cup opener.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scores
SILVER FERNS│ Q1: 21 – Q2: 36 (15) – Q3: 53 (17) – Q4: 73 (20)
BARBADOS│ Q1: 7 – Q2: 13 (6) – Q3: 24 (11) – Q4: 28 (4)
Shooting Statistics
SILVER FERNS: 73/96 @ 76%
Mes: 24/31 @ 77%
Tutaia: 12/15 @ 80%
Paseka: 28/38 @74%
Brown: 9/12 @ 75%
BARBADOS: 28/33 @85%
Wharton: 14/16 @ 88%
Piggott: 6/6 @100%
Thomas: 4/6 @67%
Sealy: 4/5 @ 80%
Starting Line-ups
SILVER FERNS│ GS Mes, GA Tutaia, WA Rasmussen, C Francois, WD Langman, GD Grant, GK Kopua
BARBADOS│ GS Wharton, GA Piggott, WA Smith, C Blackman, WD Marville, GD Niles, GK Bruce
Positional Changes
SILVER FERNS
Q3 – GS Paseka, GA Brown, C Langman, WD Cullen, GD de Bruin, GK Karaka
BARBADOS
Q3 – GD Rock, WD Niles, GA Thomas, WA Brown
Q3 (T/O) - GS Piggott
Q4 – WA Seale, GS Wharton
Q4 (T/O) - GS Sealy