Netball: Silver Ferns silence critics with big win over Australian Diamonds

Silver Ferns defender Kelly Jury contests the ball against Diamonds sharpshooter Caitlin Bassett. Photo / Michael Bradley

Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby believes her side's brilliant win over Australia this afternoon didn't just answer questions of the strength of the national programme, but also the quality of the New Zealand league.

The Ferns disappointing Quad Series loss to England last week was held up as evidence that New Zealand were slipping behind the pack as their athletes no longer get regular exposure to the Australian players since the split in the transtasman league.

With no restrictions on imports in the new Australian domestic league, the competition has attracted a bevy of international talent, leading to claims across the ditch that their league is a vastly superior product.

But Southby believes the ANZ Premiership has helped New Zealand rediscover its distinct style and flair.

"People have been writing off our competition, so I just think kudos to Netball NZ and everything they've done in that space. I think our product is really exciting, our product is worthy and people need to sit back and take a look at it," she said.

For Southby the most pleasing aspect of today's 57-47 win, which saw them claim the Quad Series crown for the first time, was it came while the Ferns are only just laying the foundations in their rebuilding phase.

The New Zealand line-up featured three players - Gina Crampton, Sam Sinclair and Kelly Jury - that were making their first start against Australia and all three delivered assured and composed performances. Jury, who was matching up on star shooter Caitlin Bassett, was named player of the match for her dominant performance on defence.

With wins over Australia - particularly so comprehensive in nature - so few and far between for the Ferns of late, Southby said today's result has given her young players a much-needed jolt of confidence.

"The exciting thing about this group is they have only just come together, they are establishing their understanding and they have so much more to give," she said.

"We have evidence now, and we've talked about it sometimes until you get that evidence the belief is a bit wavering and I think now the belief will be absolutely rock solid."

The Kiwi side will meet Australia again next month in a four-test Constellation Cup series, and Ferns captain Katrina Grant said the challenge for them now is to prove today's
result was not a one-off and they consistently produce performances of that calibre.

"We really need to build on this because we know Australia are going to come out firing in the Constellation Cup and we need to be ready for it," said Grant.

But at the forefront of the Ferns' mind will be getting revenge on England in the three-test Taini Jamison series beginning in Porirua on Thursday night.