Netball: Silver Ferns stuns New Zealand men to win title

Silver ferns 55
New Zealand Men 52

The Silver Ferns have secured their first win over the New Zealand men, and the timing couldn’t have been better.

The 55-52 victory has not only secured them the 2020 Cadbury Netball Series title, but gives them a lot of confidence four days into their first international outing in nine months.

The world champions play England in a three-match Taini Jamison Trophy series that begins on Wednesday, and this week’s series has been the perfect opportunity for head coach Dame Noeline Taurua to consolidate the teams.

The Roses came out of quarantine today and will have been watching this week’s series almost as closely as Taurua.

And what they would have seen tonight should get some nerves.

In stark contrast to the last time the Ferns met the men, it was the Ferns who took an early lead.

Captain of Ferns shooters Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who rested on Friday, made work inside the circle easier, creating space and making a smart play. His efforts even sparked some ‘Harrison Hoists’ from his opponents.

The Ferns’ midfields kept passes short and crisp, avoiding easily intercepted long bombs.

Male shooter Junior Levi, generally an easy target for his teammates, struggled to break free from Sulu Fitzpatrick at times. In response, several changes were made to the men’s court, which seemed to work almost instantly.

The men reduced the Ferns’ lead to three goals by halftime, setting the stage for a highly contested second half.

Maia Wilson and Claire Kersten entered as the only Ferns trades early in the third quarter before Kelly Jury later joined in to give Fitzpatrick a break.

Meanwhile, Cameron Powell ran on the attack on goal for the men to join Levi, who stepped forward to finish 92 percent accurate, scoring 36 of his 39 shots.

The Ferns managed to take their small lead into the last 15, where Taurua opted for consistency in their lineup rather than trying multiple combinations as seen earlier in the week.

A handful of turnovers to the Ferns’ favor briefly put them in a more comfortable position before the men, again, showed how quickly they can score, leveling the game with five minutes to go.

But in the end, it was the Ferns who remained calm and patient to claim victory in front of a jubilant crowd from Palmerston North.

“It was an absolutely unreal game, this is the best preparation we could get and ask for, so we are very grateful to the men. It has been an unreal week,” said an ecstatic Ekenasio.

“I’m very proud of the girls. I remember looking up on a stage thinking there were seven minutes to go, but I saw that it was only two and I was very relieved. It was an unreal experience.”

Previously, New Zealand A claimed third place in the series with a 68-47 win over New Zealand Under 21s.

Kate Heffernan took home the player of the match after a stellar performance at the back of the wing back. The 21-year-old received four interceptions, four deflections and three turnovers.