Netball: Ferns go through intense final hit-out

Laura Langman. Photo / Getty Images

The Silver Ferns have declared they are ready for action at the netball world championships after coming through an intense final hit-out in Singapore.

The New Zealand side today wrapped up their preparation with a warm-up match against Barbados at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall.

While no official score was taken, the Ferns easily accounted for Barbados, as they have done their previous opponents in their warm-up matches, Singapore and Malawi.

But Ferns midcourter Laura Langman believes the scoreline did not reflect the intensity of the game. The Barbados side, many of whom were sporting blue streaks in their hair to match their uniform, struggled to get the ball in to their shooting circle under the intense full-court defensive pressure of the Ferns and were kept scoreless for long stretches.

Langman said Barbados ensured the Ferns had to work hard for their goals, with the athleticism and elevation of the Calypso Girls testing the New Zealand attack.

"Although they didn't score a lot of goals, they did cause a lot of havoc for us," she said. "They're like a lot of Caribbean nations - they're very quick off the mark, and that's something we have to adjust to, so it was great to get this experience against them."

"It was a really good final test for us - now it's game time, we're ready."

The game was watched on by an 80-strong contingent of Kiwi ex-pats, who were invited in to view the Ferns' final training run.

The initiative, which was organised by Fisher & Paykel - a long-time sponsor of the Ferns, also doubled as a fundraiser for quake-stricken Canterbury, with spectators giving a donation on entry.

The company are organising several other fundraising efforts around the tournament. They have donated a fridge each to the New Zealand and Australian teams, which will be signed by the players and auctioned off at ex-pat ball later this month.

The Silver Ferns now have the rest of the weekend to put their feet up and re-energise ahead of their opening game against Fiji on Monday.

The tournament officially kicks off tomorrow night with the opening ceremony at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, before the hosts take on Botswana in the first game of pool-play.