Netball: Win for Ferns highlights depth of talent

Captain Maree Bowden. Photo / Martin Sykes

The success of a second-string New Zealand line-up at the World Fastnet series is seen as promising sign the Silver Ferns' depth is improving heading into world championships year.

Led by former international Maree Bowden, the largely young team - a mix of fringe Silver Ferns and age group stars - upstaged an experienced England side 28-26 in yesterday's final.

With Jamaica and England fielding near full-strength line-ups for the Liverpool tournament and Australia having the luxury of being able to include four test players in their 'B' team, the young New Zealand side set their sights on making the semifinals.

And after opening with a big loss to Australia, before a scare against Malawi, top four looked to be the best result to they could hope for.

The defending champions found their feet on the final day, upsetting Jamaica 29-28 in the semifinals, before toppling the hosts in the final.

Jamaica went on to beat Australia in the play-off for third and fourth.

Captain Maree Bowden said having little to no expectations on the team helped take the pressure off.

"The girls came together really well, we had limited time together and we're a young team but we really wanted it," she said.

"To get a win on the world stage is a big thing at such a young age. And of course for an oldie like me, I'm pretty stoked as well."

The success of the young Kiwi side has reinforced Netball New Zealand's decision to second a second-tier team to Britain. But chief executive Raelene Castle said it remains to be seen whether they will continue to use the tournament as a development tool.

"I think regardless of the result it was the right decision [to send a second-string team]. The Commonwealth Games girls needed a decent break before they started building up for the ANZ and World Netball Champs. And secondly it was the perfect opportunity to give what is our next layer of talent an opportunity to perform on the world stage, so it was win-win," said Castle.

"And the fact they won it on top of that was the icing on the cake. It completed the perfect picture."

Castle said following the Silver Ferns gold medal-winning triumph at last month's Commonwealth Games, the victory in Liverpool puts New Zealand in good stead ahead of next year's world championships in Singapore.

Key to New Zealand's defence of the crown was coach Robyn Broughton's decision to play conservatively. The game-plan was simple: maintain possession, score off your own centre pass and convert turnovers.

New Zealand shied away from taking two-point shots as it was considered too much of a risk, while virtually the same starting seven were favoured throughout the tournament.

Despite New Zealand prospering two years in row by playing traditional netball, Castle believes if the Fastnet concept is to survive, the rules need to be changed to encourage teams to embrace the new variations.

"I think there is a case for the international body to look at introducing some rules that make the game different from the original game."

The future of the competition is far from safe, with the hosts of the 2011 Fastnet tournament yet to be confirmed. The event was supposed to be in Britain again next year, but netball authorities there have failed to come up with the funding.

Castle said Netball New Zealand and Netball Australia are working together to see if they can bring the tournament to the Southern Hemisphere.