1.00pm
Australia will be looking for a 60-minute effort in the second test in Palmerston North tonight as they try to square the three-match netball series with New Zealand, shooter Cynna Neele says.
The Australians lost the opening test 54-45 in Christchurch on Wednesday night, but Neele believes she and her team-mates showed in patches that victory over the world champions was within reach.
"It's always hard to lose to the Kiwis, especially on their home soil, but I think we're just going to be even hungrier," she said.
"We did really well for three quarters, and only in the last quarter did we let ourselves down. We had some great passages of play. We just need to put it together for a full 60 minutes."
Neele, a 22-year-old student who plays for the Melbourne Kestrels in Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy competition, had mixed feelings about her own display at the Westpac Centre.
She felt she was "100 per cent" better than in the world championship final in Jamaica last year, when the Silver Ferns grabbed Australia's crown.
"I had just made the team then, whereas I feel a lot more confident now and prepared to take the knocks," she said.
"I felt it was a better performance, but I still have room to improve, definitely."
Among the improvements Neele and her fellow shooters will want is in their shooting.
Neele, who operated at both goal shoot and goal attack, was Australia's top scorer, but her 28 goals took 39 attempts, for a modest 72 per cent success rate.
By contrast, Silver Fern Irene van Dyk added further weight to the argument that she is the world's best goal shoot by converting 39 of her 40 shots, for a superb 97.5 per cent return.
Neele said the fact that she, Sharelle McMahon and new cap Kristen Heinrich actually put up more shots than New Zealand was one positive aspect for the Australians.
However, the New Zealand defensive effort, led by goal defence Sheryl Scanlan and goal keep Vilimaina Davu, meant many of the attempts were from distance.
"We need to work on our percentages and on where we're taking the shots," Neele said.
"A lot of our shots were long ones. We need to work harder at improving our positioning to make it easier on ourselves, so we don't have that added pressure."
Neele said the unavailability through injury of Australia's No 1 shooter, New Zealand-born Catherine Cox, was a big setback.
Cox had been a key member of the squad's pre-season preparations and at training camps before the trip to New Zealand.
"It has meant a big change to the team," Neele said.
"But again, it's a great opportunity for myself and Kristen to step up and show that there are others who can play in that position."
Neele will be making her 17th test appearance when she runs on at Arena Manawatu.
She was comfortable with having just one full day's break between the first and second tests, and much of that was taken up with travelling from Christchurch to Palmerston North.
The short turnaround meant at least there wasn't much time to dwell on a defeat, she said.
Neele also had no complaints about the rugged nature of the contest in Christchurch, which featured plenty of collisions and bodies tumbling to the floor.
"The Commonwealth Bank Trophy is quite rough, especially when you play the top teams, but internationals seem to be that extra step up," she said.
"Everyone is competing for the ball, so there are no holds barred. I enjoy that type of game because it makes you feel like you're actually doing something out on court."
- NZPA
Netball: Australia looking for 60-minute effort to square series
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