Looking to add the polish to their Commonwealth Games build-up, the Silver Ferns opened their Cadbury Netball Series campaign with a 67-48 win over NZ A in Auckland on Wednesday.
Silver Ferns shooter Maia Wilson was accurate under the hoop in the Cadbury Netball Series. Photo: Photosport
With Dame Noeline Taurua isolating at home, the Silver Ferns gave their coach reason to be happy enough with their first hit-out after overcoming a tight first half to storm home with a forceful response in the second 30 minutes.
Both teams mixed and matched their combinations throughout with the Silver Ferns players, in particular, getting plenty of opportunities as the team impressed during a dominant finish to proceedings.
The intent from both sides was on show through the first half, the pressure and energy all too evident as an entertaining and intriguing tussle unfolded.
But NZ A were rocked by a relentless Silver Ferns in a telling second half.
Slotting into her new role of centre for the Silver Ferns, Whitney Souness featured with her ability to fire long-range, precision-placed ball into the hands of shooter Maia Wilson from the start.
Wilson missed just one of her 15 shots in a high-scoring opening.
Her opposite Ameliaranne Ekenasio was equally sharp, the former Silver Ferns captain delivering an eye-catching and near perfect first 15 minutes.
With Sulu Fitzpatrick moving up court to goal defence, her partnership with Kelly Jury proved pivotal, the pair picking up handy turnover ball to help the Silver Ferns forge an 18-13 lead at the first break.
The Silver Ferns made multiple changes on the resumption with shooters Grace Nweke, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, midcourter Shannon Saunders and defenders Kayla Johnson and Phoenix Karaka injected.
Pocket rocket midcourter Elisapeta Toeava and defender Kristiana Manu'a got their turn as NZ A turned the tables during in the second stanza.
Elisapeta Toeava turned out for NZ A. Photo: Photosport
Toeava added punch and spark to the NZ A attacking momentum while Ekenasio continued to shine in tandem with Tiana Metuarau under the hoop.
NZ A made the Silver Ferns pay for a high penalty count, drawing level with five minutes to go before Nweke found her range to keep the women in black just in front on the scoreboard.
Ekenasio with a perfect 17 from 17 and Metuarau chipping with 10 from 11, had the Silver Ferns looking over their shoulder when their lead was trimmed to 30-27 at the main break.
Reverting to Crampton and Souness in the midcourt and Wilson moving out to goal attack, the Silver Ferns hit impressive form during the third stanza. With Nweke finding her groove and receiving plenty of well-supplied ball, the Silver Ferns turned up the heat with a flurry of goals.
At the other end, the defensive combination of Fitzpatrick and Jury continued to force a smothering blanket over the NZ A shooters, who struggled for the same consistency during a match-changing 15 minutes.
Heading into the last quarter, it was the Silver Ferns who were in the box seat when leading 52-40.
Earlier, showing their greater experience the New Zealand Men opened the four-day series with a 47-39 win over the Mixed Invitational.
In a world first, with the Mixed team making their introduction at the elite level, the newcomers delivered a decent first hit-out on the back of having little time to forge their connections.
The Mixed team had the edge through the second half but a10-goal lead at halftime provided enough wriggle room for the Men to clinch the win.
A feature of the series since 2019, the Men continued to showcase their athletic, aerial and physical skills to a wider audience with a comfortable first-up clash and both teams will look to add the polish as the series progresses.
