Silver Ferns

There's been a lot of growth in the Silver Ferns since their last meeting with the Australian Diamonds, experienced defender Phoenix Karaka says.

"Also we need to be a lot more physical in terms of our body checks and all that kind of stuff. "I find that you just find a way. I think we've got a great game plan to what our strengths are and if we can focus on that I feel like we can get ball. We're nearing that, but I wouldn't say we are 100 percent all the time." "And Australia haven't played our Kiwi style since the January tour so there's also that aspect of surprise element as well that we have. "I think that also gives us the opportunity to then connect on a different level as well when we don't have Sulu at the back. But I think we've learnt as a unit if she's not on we've got to pick it up somehow. But now I feel like I'm being really solid in my position, physically I'm feeling fit so I think I'm in a better space confidence-wise to take on Aussie," Karaka said. "There's still the element of a little bit of fatiguing and struggle to breath in the warm-up but by the time we get through to the full on training we are able to recover and get to where we need to be." "And talking to a few of the other girls who had it and then had a bit of the flu afterwards are similar in that we are still finding it hard during a warm-up. " ...I think we're getting a lot better and a lot sharper in terms of what we want from each other and asking and demanding that of each other." "In the January tour I was coming back from having a baby and just kind of getting back in the gist of things.

That's the message emanating from the Australian Diamonds camp as Stacey Marinkovich's 14-woman squad – featuring eight players who won Commonwealth gold in ...

Heffernan fed Nweke from the midcourt and the Ferns were back out to a five-goal lead. To be here means the absolute world. “They just cut the middle … But the move didn’t pay off as the Ferns pulled away once again. For the Ferns, Grace Nweke gets the nod at goal shooter with the experienced Ameliaranne Ekenasio starting goal attack. Vixens teammates Liz Watson (WA) and Kate Moloney (C) are joined by debutant Amy Parmenter in the midcourt. Kayla Cullen came on in goal defence for the home side and once again it was Jury with her hands over pressure that won back ball for New Zealand as she blocked a third shot for the match. And they started the final quarter with a bang, putting on four straight goals to push the lead back out to double figures. With less than three minutes to go in the opening half, Wood was benched as Kiera Austin came on at goal attack - and despite missing her first shot under the post, she found space in the goal circle. Just as Australia closed to just three goals - Koenen was hit with the offensive contact off the ball. Courtney Bruce and Sarah Klau round out Australia’s defensive end. With the match hanging in the balance in the final term, Marinkovich then made the extraordinary call to bench both shooters and introduce a whole new attack end - but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Ferns’ dominance.

Follow live coverage as the Silver Ferns take on their old rivals in Auckland in the first of four internationals. Women in sport. He Wāhine hākinakina.

New Zealand take on Australia in the opening test tonight in Auckland. With World Cup selection spots up for grabs, coach Dame Noeline Taurua says there's ...

The Silver Ferns have one eye on next year's Netball World Cup as they zero-in on retaining the Constellation Cup 12 October 2022 The Silver Ferns have one eye on next year's Netball World Cup as they zero-in on retaining the Constellation Cup

At Spark Arena, Auckland: Silver Ferns 56 (Grace Nweke: 40/42, Ameliaranne Ekenasio: 16/19) Australia 48 (Cara Koenen: 21/22, Steph Wood: 11/16, ...

A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. They won’t just want to tie the series and retain the trophy though. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. If quality local sport journalism is important to you, become a Stuff supporter today. Take your pick in the Silver Ferns’ side. Goal defence Sunday Aryang and goal attack Kiera Austin both created an impact off the bench and helped pull Australia back into the contest. Goal defence Karaka was the pick though, producing one of her best showings in the black dress, gaining five intercepts and forcing a raft of moves in the Australian shooting end. With the World Cup next year, they’ll be eager to make a major statement to close out 2022. They did their best to fight back, but it was too larger margin to overcome. Nweke finished with 40 goals from 42 attempts, having played just one quarter previously against Australia in January. It had to be the Ferns’ 11-0 run in the first quarter, which stunned the Australian side and left them with a mountain to climb. The Ferns went on an 11-0 run in the first quarter, forcing Australia into errors on attack and capitalising from the turnover ball.

An 11-goal first-quarter run helped New Zealand claim victory over Australia in netball's Constellation Cup series opener on Wednesday night.

The Diamonds shaved the deficit to eight at half-time, and three late in the third, before the Silver Ferns steadied for a 42-36 at three-quarter time lead. New Zealand began their match-winning run down 6-8, when a combination of Australian penalties, botched passes and shooting errors allowed the Kiwis to surge to 17-8. Led by all-action goalshooter Grace Nweke (40 of 42), New Zealand had winners all across the court, with goal defence Phoenix Karaka making a stunning six intercepts, wing attack Peta Toeava indefatiguable and keeper Kelly Jury making seven gains.

All the Constellation Cup action between the Silver Ferns and Australia. ‌. Constellation Cup. Spark Arena, Auckland. New Zealand.

Kimiora Poi (Australian leg) Jane Woodlands-Thompson will replace Fuller for the Australian leg of the Constellation Cup. Maddy Gordon (Australian leg)

The Silver Ferns have beaten world number one Australia 56-48 in the first test of the Constellation Cup in Auckland.

Australia continued to close in on the Silver Ferns lead - getting to within three in the third quarter. But the Diamonds made some changes for the second quarter and won the second period. The Silver Ferns have beaten world number one Australia 56-48 in the first test of the Constellation Cup in Auckland.

An emphatic 11-goal run in the opening quarter ensured the Silver Ferns made Dame Noeline Taurua's 50th Test in charge of the side a memorable one.

Just ahead of them, Kate Heffernan was piling on the pressure as well. "One thing I'm really proud was she was able to sustain four quarters against Australia," Taurua said of Toeava. However, the Silver Ferns rallied in the fourth quarter and outscored the Australians 14-12 to ensure they came away with the win, meaning they need just one more victory in the remaining three Tests of the series to retain the Constellation Cup.

New Zealand brought Commonwealth Games gold medal winners Australia down to earth with a 56-48 win in Auckland.

“Full credit to New Zealand, they’re chasing balls down hard and they’re very strong onto the ball.” The Diamonds shaved the deficit to eight at half-time, and three late in the third, before the Silver Ferns steadied for a 42-36 three-quarter-time lead. Any hopes of an Australian comeback were dashed by a pair of stunning turnovers by Karaka, one from well behind the court, as the Silver Ferns consolidated their lead. New Zealand began their match-winning run down 6-8, when a combination of Australian penalties, botched passes and shooting errors allowed the Kiwis to surge to 17-8. Led by all-action goal shooter Grace Nweke (40 of 42), New Zealand had winners across the court, with goal defence Phoenix Karaka making a stunning six intercepts, wing attack Peta Toeava indefatigable and goal keeper Kelly Jury making seven gains. Returning to action for the first time since the Games in Birmingham in August, the Diamonds were blunted by Noeline Taurua’s dynamic Silver Ferns on Wednesday night.

The injection of Jamie-Lee Price into centre and Sunday Aryang into goal defence gave Australia a much-needed boost, coming within three goals in the third ...

But Toeava proved she will have more international caps in the coming years. "She's the most explosive player I've ever seen on court. The injection of Jamie-Lee Price into centre and Sunday Aryang into goal defence gave Australia a much-needed boost, coming within three goals in the third quarter. It was just her fourth test for the Ferns, but inexperience was nowhere to be seen. That's probably her first game where she played four quarters – there were moments there where I'm going 'If you're going to keep doing this you're going to get off', but she stuck at it. New Zealand's strong start edged them ahead of the Aussies, leading by 11 goals after the first quarter.

New Zealand bring Commonwealth Games gold medal winners Australia down to Earth with a 56-48 opening Constellation Cup win in Auckland.

The Diamonds shaved the deficit to eight at half-time, and three late in the third, before the Silver Ferns steadied for a 42-36 at three-quarter time lead. Of the streak, the last goal was the most spectacular, with Toeava spearing a centimetre-perfect ball from mid-court for Nweke to shoot cleanly. - New Zealand slotted 11 unanswered goals in a seven-minute hot streak in the first quarter

Silver Ferns' coach Dame Noeline Taurua paid rookie Kate Heffernan the ultimate compliment after last night's win over Australia.

For Heffernan it was the first time she had ever stepped out on court against Australia, and she owned her position from start to finish. It was also Peta Toeava's first Test against the Diamonds. really pleased with her." And they are known for being relentless on court. "Especially in the first half she showed her amazing ability to thread that ball to connect with Grace [Nweke], I thought she did that really well. "I thought it was a good start for Kate, I would never disrespect Liz, I hold her in high regard I really do and she's a master of what she does and I feel as a unit they all did their role and it turned over a lot of ball so really pleased for Kate."

As the Silver Ferns strike first against world No.1 Australia in the Constellation Cup, one of the game's greats tells Merryn Anderson how NZ are tracking ...

At the Commonwealth Games, the Ferns lost to England and Jamaica in pool play; then Jamaica toppled Australia but couldn’t replicate that in the gold medal match. “She was massive - basically she just said have fun and enjoy it,” Wilson says. “When I was playing, there were two teams at the top,” Wilson recalls. “You see Kiwis play with Jamaicans or English players and it’s creating something different for the spectator. “I think we were the first netball team to tour South Africa after Apartheid,” Wilson remembers, as Irene van Dyk returned to her homeland representing New Zealand. The Ferns came out to a flying start in game one of the four-game series, scoring 10 unanswered goals on their way to that record 20-9 lead at quarter time. The Ferns are also without a couple of midcourt veterans - in Shannon Saunders and Gina Crampton - but Peta Toeava was stellar in their eight-goal win over the Commonwealth Games gold medallists, combining cleverly with centre Whitney Souness, and feeding Nweke with her usual flair. Security was tight, so the players had to make their own fun, Wilson remembers. Having played in three World Cups (1999, 2003 and 2007), Wilson would love to experience the pinnacle event again. New Zealand comfortably topped their pool, including a 107-17 win over the Cook Islands. Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio missed the Birmingham Games, struggling to meet the fitness standards after having her second baby. “I always felt the Commonwealth Games were almost a year too early.

The Ferns squad has a core of nine players, all of whom (except Ameliaranne Ekenasio) were part of the bronze medal winning Commonwealth Games side. Three ...

Having narrowly missed out on a spot in the Commonwealth Games side, you could tell that she has a point to prove and some real fight in her ahead of the World Cup next year. Amy Parmenter made her much-anticipated debut at wing defence, and was initially outclassed by the speed of Toeava, giving her far too much room to move. The Ferns overall demonstrated that they have started to master the art of feeding Grace Nweke, which was a work in progress during the Commonwealth Games campaign and sometimes cost them in turnover ball. The Silver Ferns gave up just eight turnovers in the first half, but their tally almost doubled to 15 in the second half. For Australia, Liz Watson topped the tables for both feeds and goal assists, although was forced into mistakes at times by the foot speed of wing defence Kate Heffernan. A change up with Kiera Austin in goal attack seemed to be effective in opening up the circle, although at times she seemed tentative and/or waiting for umpiring calls which did not come when faced with Kelly Jury’s impressive lean. The game came down to the Diamonds shooting circle and its struggles to withstand some enormous pressure from a powerful Ferns defence. However, the Diamonds goal attacks will also need to lift their shooting accuracy, with Steph Wood (68.8%) and Kiera Austin (64.3%) well below what is expected at this level. In a surprise to many, New Zealand outstripped Australia in a dominant first quarter, going ahead 20-9 and leaving the Diamonds shell-shocked. The Australian squad on the other hand will be consistent across the series but features a number of players who weren’t at the Games and includes two debutantes, Amy Parmenter and Ruby Bakewell-Doran. Three different sets of players will join the side for the New Zealand and Australian legs of the series. The Ferns squad has a core of nine players, all of whom (except Ameliaranne Ekenasio) were part of the bronze medal winning Commonwealth Games side.

12 October, 2022 An 11-goal first quarter lead set up the Silver Ferns for a decisive 56-48 victory over the Australian Diamonds in the first Test of the ...

The Silver Ferns stuck with the same seven going into the third spell, but with a more concerted defensive effort from the Australians, they began to chip away at the lead to get within three. But a clever backwards intercept from Karaka began a chain of events which gave the Ferns an even more commanding lead of 14. The Diamonds couldn’t find any way to shut down the Ferns attack, in particular Toeava’s flair and connection with Nweke. Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, in her 50th Test guiding the national side, has taken a novel approach to this four-test series, naming two different teams to play on either side of the Tasman. It was Toeava’s first time combining with centre Whitney Souness, and the new partnership was integral to the Ferns’ dominance in the opening stages. And it was the first time the two sides have met since January (for the first time, they didn’t meet at the Commonwealth Games).

An 11-goal first quarter lead set up the Silver Ferns for a decisive 56-48 victory over the Australian Diamonds in the first Test of the Constellation Cup ...

It was Toeava’s first time combining with centre Whitney Souness, and the new partnership was integral to the Ferns’ dominance in the opening stages. And it was the first time the two sides have met since January (for the first time, they didn’t meet at the Commonwealth Games). The teams then head to Australia for the third and fourth Tests in the Constellation Cup – the first time in three years the Silver Ferns will play there. Once the Silver Ferns got into their rhythm in the first quarter, they ramped up the defensive pressure, and went on a breathtaking run of 10 unanswered goals, rushing out to a nine-goal advantage. In the first clash of the four-Test series, the Silver Ferns’ stunning first quarter performance, to lead 20-9, was the Ferns’ highest score in a 60-minute international against Australia. An 11-goal first quarter lead set up the Silver Ferns for a decisive 56-48 victory over the Australian Diamonds in the first Test of the Constellation Cup at Spark Arena in Auckland.

As the Silver Ferns strike first against world No.1 Australia in the Constellation Cup, one of the game's greats tells Merryn Anderson how NZ are tracking ...

At the Commonwealth Games, the Ferns lost to England and Jamaica in pool play; then Jamaica toppled Australia but couldn’t replicate that in the gold medal match. “She was massive - basically she just said have fun and enjoy it,” Wilson says. “When I was playing, there were two teams at the top,” Wilson recalls. “You see Kiwis play with Jamaicans or English players and it’s creating something different for the spectator. “I think we were the first netball team to tour South Africa after Apartheid,” Wilson remembers, as Irene van Dyk returned to her homeland representing New Zealand. The Ferns came out to a flying start in game one of the four-game series, scoring 10 unanswered goals on their way to that record 20-9 lead at quarter time. The Ferns are also without a couple of midcourt veterans - in Shannon Saunders and Gina Crampton - but Peta Toeava was stellar in their eight-goal win over the Commonwealth Games gold medallists, combining cleverly with centre Whitney Souness, and feeding Nweke with her usual flair. Security was tight, so the players had to make their own fun, Wilson remembers. Having played in three World Cups (1999, 2003 and 2007), Wilson would love to experience the pinnacle event again. New Zealand comfortably topped their pool, including a 107-17 win over the Cook Islands. Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio missed the Birmingham Games, struggling to meet the fitness standards after having her second baby. “I always felt the Commonwealth Games were almost a year too early.

“Sandra Edge was our captain, Leigh Gibbs was our coach, Noeline Taurua-Barnett was in the team, Bernice Mene, Belinda Charteris, we had a really strong team. “ ...

By the time you get to the game it is probably too late. I was wanting players to perform and do well and then had to discipline them. You can’t stand still and you can’t sit on your ways as a coach. “This was a huge learning opportunity for us as a playing group. It was always something I really enjoyed doing. I also have always loved training.

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua had plenty of reasons to smile, after the Silver Ferns' eyebrow-raising 56-48 win over Australia in Wednesday's Constellation Cup ...