22 Sep 2021

Silver Ferns crumble in second half

9:04 pm on 22 September 2021

The England Roses have kept the Taini Jamison Trophy series alive with a 55-45 win over the Silver Ferns in Christchurch.

Grace Nweke of the Silver Ferns

Silver Fern Grace Nweke made her debut against the England Roses on Wednesday. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Trailing by three goals at halftime the Roses took the advantage early in the third quarter and couldn't be caught.

With an unchanged game day 12 from the side that lost to the Silver Ferns on Monday, England bounced back for just their 11th victory in the 102nd test between the two countries.

Challenged by their coach Jess Thirlby to make the most of their defensive turnovers the Roses were able to make a comeback against a top three nation.

Roses shooter George Fisher took on the bulk of her side's scoring, netting 45 goals from her 47 attempts.

The series is now locked at 1-1 with the decider on Friday again at Christchurch Arena.

The Silver Ferns had three new players in the game day squad, including two potential debutants - teenage shooter Grace Nweke and double international Kate Heffernan - and were without new captain Gina Crampton who sat out the game with a hip injury picked up in game one of the series on Monday.

The Silver Ferns won a low-scoring first quarter 10-7 and were ahead 24-21 at halftime.

After halftime, Nweke joined Monday's debutant Tiana Metuarau to briefly give a glimpse of what the future of the shooting circle for the Silver Ferns will look like.

However, Metuarau was subbed off a couple mintues into the third quarter to bring Maia Wilson into the game for the first time in the goal attack bib.

When England took the lead early in the third quarter, the Silver Ferns made several personnel changes but could not drag back the difference.

Vice captain Sulu Fitzpatrick took Sky Sport the Silver Ferns put on a "disjointed" performance and she lamented her side's inability to support the young players who came on to the court during the game.