Netball: Tutaia regroups, pulls one out of bag

Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Improve or be removed. For Silver Ferns goal attack Maria Tutaia, there was only one option last night after a shaky display in the first test against Jamaica.

"I had to pull something out of the bag after Wednesday night's performance," she admitted after her player-of-the-match performance.

"I know what I am capable of but I did a lot of uncharacteristic things in the first test and it was just a matter of going back to the drawing board.

"It was about me being more confident in my play, talking to myself and knowing that the other six girls were going to back me up when times were tough."

Tutaia certainly responded, bringing a dynamic movement to her play that has not always been evident and exuding calmness under the hoop.

After combining superbly with wing attack Temepara George in the first half, she took a while to gel with Liana Barrett-Chase in the second stanza. Tutaia put it down to different styles, saying Barrett-Chase is "quite unique" in her movement and passing.

Coach Ruth Aitken sees such issues as inevitable teething problems in their search for the magnificent seven.

"We got 12 players on court over two matches, which is pretty phenomenal, but it is hard to be seamless all the time. The lines have not had a lot of time together and that showed. It took longer to settle down, especially in the second half."

She figured the emphatic series win gives them confidence and a slight mental edge over Jamaica.

They are set to meet at the semifinal stage in the Commonwealth Games but Jamaica coach Connie Francis says there is no guarantee of a similar outcome in Delhi.

"We made changes tonight and it worked for us - we handled their pressure better - and coped well with a young team out there," she said.

Francis knows key players such as Althea Byfield and Carla Borrego will be back in the frame come October. Back too will be goal attack Simone Forbes who brings composure, vision, flair and accuracy to take the heat off Romelda Aiken.

"We play our best netball at the big games," says Francis.

Much like the French rugby team that are indifferent between World Cups but always peak at the Big Show, the Caribbean nation have a solid record in major tournaments.

The Ferns have always struggled to subdue them at the world championships - in 1983 the margin was three, in 1991 they won by five and in Christchurch in 1999 by two.

At the last Commonwealth Games in 2006 Jamaica pushed host nation Australia all the way, eventually settling for a 54-all draw.