Netball: Silver Ferns through to final

MELBOURNE - The Silver Ferns are within reach of the Commonwealth Games gold medal after outclassing Jamaica 61-40 in the semifinal tonight. 

The Silver Ferns were always in control against an enthusiastic Jamaican side who showed flair but lacked the clinical precision of their opponents.  

However, they did end the game with a major injury concern, with the promising Casey Williams helped off court with an ankle injury.  

The New Zealanders moved up two gear cogs in this match from their preliminary games, impressing with the speed of their attack. 

In a frenetically paced first half, the New Zealanders were smooth in their midcourt combinations.  

It wasn't perfect -- there were still too many risky passes that failed to find their mark -- but the fast passing and slick links were enough most of the time to outsmart the Jamaican defence.  

When they did get the ball, the Jamaicans were enterprising in attack with spectacular long passes. Not even the close attention of Vilimaina Davu ruffled captain Elaine Davis in the goal circle but her chances were too few.  

Any mistakes were punished harshly by the Silver Ferns.  

They led 18-7 after the first quarter and extended the margin to 32-17 at halftime.  

Coach Ruth Aitken started the match with the same top seven that began the match on Wednesday and once again the promising Williams replaced Anna Scarlett at the start of the third quarter.  

There were some nervous moments midway through that quarter when ace goalshoot Irene van Dyk, a player vital to New Zealand's gold medal chances, twice hit the floor hard in collisions with Jamaican goalkeeper Kasey Evering. But van Dyk climbed back to her feet both times, landing a goal the second time.  

Aitken replaced goal attack Belinda Colling in the final quarter with Maria Tutaia, while Anna Rowberry, involved in the past two Commonwealth Games campaigns, came on for Temepara George.  

- NZPA