Silver Ferns v England result: New Zealand claim game three of the Taini Jamison Trophy series

Grace Nweke in action for the Silver Ferns against England. Photo / Photosport

The Silver Ferns have produced their best performance of the Taini Jamison series to avoid a sweep by England.

The Roses had already claimed the trophy for the first time since 2021, edging the first game in Auckland by one goal before securing the silverware with a come-from-behind win in Porirua.

But the Ferns responded with improved efforts at both ends of the court to build an early lead and withstand an England fightback, eventually triumphing 61-56 in Invercargill.

“It’s been coming,” standout wing defence Karin Burger told Sky Sport. “It’s been building over the last couple of games so it was really good to see.

“Everybody just gelled really well and I felt like we were really connected on court. I’m just glad it all came together in the last game.”

After Dame Noeline Taurua’s substitutions in game two had been criticised, New Zealand kept their entire starting seven on court for the first time since last September.

“We’ve got trust in everybody that does come on court that they’re going to do the job,” said Burger. “But there is a little bit of comfortability in knowing you’re just going to have to grind it out and work it out.”

After wing attack Whitney Souness was ruled out with an ankle injury hours before the game, Claire O’Brien enjoyed a maiden start since leaving her native Australia and established a productive first-half connection with Grace Nweke.

That helped the home side start like a team desperate to earn some consolation, netting 18 goals for their highest-scoring quarter of the series. But England withstood the early onslaught and trailed by only two at the first break.

The visitors quickly erased that deficit and edged out to a three-goal advantage, before the Ferns applied the clamps to regain control. With Burger and Parris Mason hunting for interceptions, the Roses went more than five minutes without finding the net, while their opponents enjoyed a six-goal run and took a 32-28 lead to halftime.

The third quarter had been problematic for the Ferns both in this series and other recent clashes with England, but another mini-run saw their advantage increase to six.

That was as large as the lead grew, however, as the Roses fought back following the introduction of experienced goal keep Fran Williams. With the goals drying up at one end, England pulled within one to set up a tense final 15 minutes.

New Zealand quickly went about reducing the drama, needing only five minutes to reestablish a six-goal edge as Kelly Jackson proved disruptive to the English attack. Such a buffer allowed the Ferns to close the game playing with caution and patience, winding down the clock to earn a win their performance deserved.

New Zealand’s next assignment will be a Constellation Cup clash against Australia, with the four-game transtasman series starting in Wellington on October 20.