The Silver Ferns have completed a sweep of their three test Taini Jamison Trophy series against England.
England goal keep Razia Quashie beats Silver Ferns goal shooter Maia Wilson to the ball in the third Taini Jamison Trophy test. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
The world champions have beaten England 62-47 in another fiercely contested test in Hamilton.
Despite being without a host of their leading players, the English again matched the Ferns for long periods and were only narrowly beaten in each of the four quarters.
Maia Wilson delivered another fine shooting performance for New Zealand, converting 44 of her 47 shots at goal (94%), while Kelly Jury led their defensive effort in her first start since the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Jury made up for lost time, forcing three turnovers in the opening two minutes.
By the time she was replaced late in the third quarter she had come up with three intercepts, three deflections and two rebounds.
Jury's instant impact helped the Ferns jump out to a 3-0 lead but it was goal for goal for the rest of the quarter as New Zealand took a 12-10 lead at the first break.
Wilson and captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio were a perfect 12/12 in the Ferns' shoorting circle.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
After a tight start to the second quarter New Zealand scored six of the last seven goals to jump out to a 26-19 halftime lead.
The Ferns' surge coincided with Whitney Souness' introduction to the game at wing attack in place of Gina Crampton.
The Silver Ferns went on a 10-2 run to start the third quarter to extend their advantage to 15 goals, but it didn't break England's resolve.
England responded by scoring six straight goals to get within 10 before New Zealand closed the period by scoring four of the last six to lead 45-35 at three quarter time.
The Ferns stretched the lead to 15 five minutes into the final quarter allowing Dame Noeline Taurua to bring Monica Falkner on for her second test appearance in place of Ekenasio.
Falkner scored her first goal in test netball, while Sam Winders and Shannon Saunders also got court time in the final few minutes as Taurua cleared her bench.
