Nations Cup Silver Ferns vs England / Jamaica / South Africa Looking to build on their status as world champions, the Silver Ferns highlighted the start of a new era in exemplary fashion when they headed off to the inaugural Netball Nations Cup in January.
SILVER FERNS Silver Ferns The Silver Ferns started and ended 2020 in great spirit but the months in between provided a high degree of uncertainty as COVID-19 looked set to potentially squash hopes of a full international Netball programme.
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Without the experienced Laura Langman and Katrina Rore (on sabbatical leave) and the retired Casey Kopua and Maria Folau, there was a sense of the unknown when the Silver Ferns ventured to the UK minus 562 Test caps. However, the new-look Silver Ferns team, which was reduced to just 10 players for the tournament after defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and shooter Bailey Mes were left sidelined by injury, delivered plenty of positive signs from their successful campaign.
The growing maturity of Maia was an individual highlight of the tournament, gaining two player of the match performances. This included the final, where she played her first full match for the Silver Ferns while also posting her highest goal tally of 44, to surpass the 42 she scored against Jamaica in the round robin. With a depleted squad, the Silver Ferns coped admirably to set the stage for the remainder of what promised to be an exciting 2020. That all changed in an instant when the COVID-19 pandemic left no one unscathed, a global shutdown putting all facets of life on hold.
As New Zealand came out of lockdown, continued ongoing border restrictions and compromised international travel still conspired against any resumption of the international calendar. This resulted in the cancellation of the Netball Quad Series involving the Silver Ferns, Australian Diamonds, South Africa Proteas and England Roses, set to be played in New Zealand and Australia in September.
SILVER FERNS
Following their stunning win in the 2019 Netball World Cup, the Silver Ferns were without four of their stalwarts for the Nations Cup which included England, Jamaica and South Africa in a heavyweight contest between the world’s second, third, fourth and fifth-ranked teams.
There remained a glimmer of hope that the Constellation Cup could be moved from October to later in the year but the annual series between the Silver Ferns and Australia proved unworkable and was rescheduled for early 2021.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio revelled in her new role as captain, shooter Maia Wilson and midcourters Whitney Souness and Kimiora Poi made telling use of their opportunities while overall the team responded with suitable poise to all the variables thrown their way to go through the series unbeaten. This included a serious challenge in the final against a rejuvenated Jamaica to which the Silver Ferns responded like seasoned veterans.
Netball New Zealand Annual Report 2020
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