Netball: Another close win for Ferns

The Silver Ferns won the second test against England by two goals. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand have won their three-match netball series against England with this morning's (NZt) 41-39 victory over England in the second test at Nottingham but will not be happy with another mixed performance.

The Silver Ferns, after winning the first test 42-40, were looking for an improved performance but once again produced some sloppy play that let England back into the game after they dominated the first quarter 15-6.

Goalkeep Anna Scarlett, playing her 50th test for New Zealand was inspirational in the first quarter with three intercepts and two rebounds that helped New Zealand out to a five-goal lead within seven minutes.

There was intent throughout the starting seven that featured Camilla Lees at centre with Laura Langman at wing attack. Joline Henry, Scarlett and skipper Casey Williams formed the defence while the tested combination of Maria Tutaia and Irene van Dyk got the nod from coach Ruth Aitken.

The Silver Ferns appeared to have shaken the rust that had showed in the first test and their play flowed with crisp, short passes that had England breathlessly trying to keep up with.

The score could have blown out but for some sterling defensive work by aggressive England co-captain Sonia Mkoloma who muzzled van Dyk (13 from 18) effectively, leaving Tutaia to make the shots from long range.

Some changes by England coach Sue Hawkins early in the second quarter paid dividends as the Silver Ferns failed to adjust to the insertion of Jo Harlan for Louisa Brownfield at goalshoot, Serena Guthrie for Jade Clark at wing defence and Stacey Francis for Eboni Beckford-Chambers at goal defence.

England went on a six-goal run over an eight-minute period which saw New Zealand go without a shot.

The gap had closed from 20-8 to 20-14 before Tutaia broke the drought for New Zealand to squeeze to halftime with a generous gap of seven at 24-17 ahead.

Aitken rang the changes for the second half with van Dyk giving way to Daneka Wipiiti, Langman switched to centre with Anna Thompson coming on at wing attack and Katrina Grant replacing Scarlett.

The changes only resulted in more disjointed play from the Silver Ferns as evidenced by Wipiiti's shooting statistics of just two goals from five attempts for the whole of the second half.

It took almost two minutes before New Zealand got on the board and England, despite having centre Sara Bayman sin-binned for persistent infringing, managed to match the Silver Ferns 12-12 in the quarter.

Chasing their first home win over the Silver Ferns since a 50-45 upset in 2007, England took advantage of numerous errors, poor passing and option taking to keep their opponents scoreless for almost eight minutes of the final quarter and complete a nine-goal run to close the gap to three before Tutaia once again broke through with a long shot.

But with Henry, Williams and Tutaia who shot 26 from 34 stepping up, the Silver Ferns managed to hold off a resurgent England who cut the margin down to two goals with just minutes to go.

Tutaia said England were an improving side and the Silver Ferns could not afford another performance such as this against England.

"We can't afford to play against a team like this so hopefully next game it won't be like this.

"I think (we need to be) doing the basics really well, pass and catch better and send the ball into spaces and grab it because their defence is a lot tighter than before."

With the shooters producing an overall success rate of 72 percent, Tutaia added that making their shots would also be important as they had "missed far too many in this test and the last test".

The final match is at London on Thursday morning (NZt).

- NZPA