SILVER FERNS By year’s end, the Silver Ferns were grateful to have had the opportunity to complete three high-quality series after their international programme bore the brunt of the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19.
With the safety of players, management, officials and volunteers paramount, combined with the need to play under strict protocols, the Silver Ferns acknowledged their privileged position and made the most of the challenging circumstances when they could so easily have been denied the opportunity. There was an excited buzz surrounding the announcement of the Constellation Cup to be played in March as a tantalising opener to the Silver Ferns international campaign for 2021. It signalled a return of the great rivalry shared between the trans-Tasman pair for the first time in over a year following the 2020 edition being cancelled due to COVID-19. With two matches set to be played in Christchurch and two in Tauranga, the Australian Diamonds arrived for the
We live this game.
mandatory two-week quarantine period with some new faces and a new coach in Stacey Marinkovich. To build momentum towards next year’s Commonwealth Games and the Netball World Cup in 2023, Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua opted for a bigger, 14-strong squad which included one new cap in midcourter Maddy Gordon and the return from injury of shooter Bailey Mes. The re-emergence of COVID-19 in the community and change of alert levels around the country in late February quickly forced a change of tact with the series given the go-ahead but under new protocols. All four matches were staged in Christchurch to minimise travel but in keeping with the guidelines around mass gatherings, crowds were not permitted. Having won the Constellation Cup just once, in 2012, since it was introduced in 2010, the Silver Ferns made the perfect start as they sought to change the status quo with a well-crafted 49-44 win in the opener. With the Diamonds just emerging from MIQ the day before, both sides showed a lack of preparation but it remained a typically willing and hard-fought transTasman contest. The Silver Ferns held the edge throughout to enjoy handy leads at all the breaks while setting the early marker. The Diamonds rebounded in trademark fashion with a decisive 45-36 response in the second Test to leave the series hanging in the balance. Winning the second half was not enough for the Silver Ferns after a poor start left them trailing 15-6 and 30-16 through the first two quarters in a low-scoring, defence-orientated game. Without injured captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, the home side made plenty of changes during the match in a bid to make up the leeway, including Gordon becoming Silver Fern #177 and Mes returning to her first international
action in over 12 months after an injury-enforced lay-off. Making their debut the night before in the opening Test, the youthful Diamonds shooting circle of Cara Koenen and Kiera Austin were influential figures with their fluency, speed and accuracy. After a two-day break, the Silver Ferns took a big step towards claiming the Constellation Cup for the first time in nine years with a pulsating 55-49 win in the third Test and with it a 2-1 series lead. SILVER FERNS
Throughout 2021, the Silver Ferns designated fixture list was thrown into turmoil as the pandemic continued to resurface and threaten any play at all. However, a resilient and adaptable attitude, backed by support from government officials, the Ministry of Health, Sport NZ and High Performance Sport NZ, ensured the Silver Ferns received valuable opportunities to take to the court.
Trailing by five at half-time, the Silver Ferns showed plenty of character with a forceful second-half response to nail the all-important win. The return of the influential Ekenasio, some Jane Watson defensive magic and super accurate shooting from Maia Wilson won the day in an absorbing but physical and bruising clash where momentum swings were a constant theme, the pressure eventually having a telling impact on the visitors. Showing their growing ability to close out games, the Silver Ferns produced another gripping come-from-behind win to pip Australia 45-43 in the decider to clinch the Constellation Cup 3-1. In a recurring theme, the Silver Ferns, after being down by five at half-time, delivered a blockbuster second half. In a fourth-quarter arm-wrestle, the Silver Ferns held their composure in a toe-totoe stand-off with their great rivals. Ekenasio kept her unbeaten on-court run as captain intact with a peerless performance while calmly guiding her team in all facets, particularly her shooting partner Wilson. With the lowering of COVID-19 restrictions and a return to Alert Level 1, crowds were welcomed through the doors for the first time during the series. A full house was on hand at Christchurch Arena to lend invaluable support to the Silver Ferns cause.
Netball New Zealand Annual Report 2021
19
