Netball: Silver Ferns quell England passion

8.52am

MANCHESTER - They didn't reach another century but New Zealand still found it pretty easy to down England 67-35 in their top-of-the-pool Commonwealth Games netball clash here today.

A vocal 6000-strong crowd couldn't help the hosts, who played with passion but were always facing an uphill struggle after falling behind 0-10 inside the first eight minutes.

While the Silver Ferns had to lift a gear from their 100-point performances against minnows Canada and Sri Lanka, they appeared to have plenty in reserve.

England registered some large victories themselves in the leadup and were touted as a significant challenge for New Zealand. But they could not match the speed of the visitors, struggling particularly to halt outstanding goal shoot Irene Van Dyk.

At the other end of the court, England found it hard to penetrate the New Zealand circle although they made it hard for the Silver Ferns to bring the ball out of their defensive third at times.

Victory all but assures New Zealand of a place in the semifinals, with their only other pool A match against an average Welsh side tomorrow morning (NZ time).

The Silver Ferns' semifinal opponent will almost certainly be the loser of tomorrow's pool B climax between Australia and Jamaica.

The only concern for New Zealand was an apparent ankle injury suffered by goal keep Vilimaina Davu, who was forced to leave the game early in the second quarter. She was replaced by Linda Vagana.

Otherwise, coach Ruth Aitken didn't made fewer substitutions than in their first two matches.

She made two substitutions in the attacking end at halftime, introducing wing attack Anna Rowberry and goal attack Donna Loffhagen in place of Jenny-May Coffin and Belinda Colling respectively.

The final quarter saw Anna Veronese come on at wing defence for Lesley Nicol.

Van Dyk, centre Julie Seymour and goal defence Sheryl Clarke played full matches.

New Zealand won the first three quarters easily, leading 18-6, 34-16 and 54-23 but England bounced back to only lose the final stanza 12-13.

Earlier today, Australia flexed their muscles with a 74-38 hammering of South Africa while the dangerous Jamaicans thrashed Fiji 84-33.

- NZPA

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