Netball: It's Ferns v Aussies again

5:00AM Saturday November 17, 2007
By Suzanne McFadden

Silver Ferns goal-shooting star Irene van Dyk fends off a determined bid for the ball from Jamaican Althea Byfield during last night's aggressive semifinal. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Netball World Championships
Netball: Relieved South Africa overcome Samoa
Netball: Ice queen cracks a smile as she awaits final countdown
Bruised and battered, the Silver Ferns will be charged with adrenalin for their biggest game in four years tonight - the defence of their world netball title.

Their gripping semifinal fight-back win over Jamaica last night took its toll, but Ferns coach Ruth Aitken insisted they are prepared for the physical battle that is always on the cards with arch rivals Australia, their confident opponent in tonight's final.

"That's what these championships are all about. So whether they are sore or not the adrenalin will certainly kick in. The recovery will be first class, but there's no doubt it takes a toll on the body. But we've just got to get on with it."

New Zealand have never won a world netball championship at home; neither have they ever notched up back-to-back title victories.

Their opponents Australia are perennial foes. They have a formidable record in world championship history - eight time winners, three times runners-up.

Since the first tournament in 1963, when Australia beat New Zealand by one goal, the two teams have been rarely separated by more than two goals at a world tournament.



AdvertisementSince the last World Championships in Jamaica in 2003, where the Silver Ferns beat Australia in the final 49-47, the neighbours have met another 18 times. The record stands at 10 victories to the Silver Ferns, eight to Australia.

While Australia have had the upper hand in recent times, they are still smarting from losing both their world and Commonwealth crowns to New Zealand.

The encounter beneath the hoop between Australian captain Liz Ellis and the Silver Ferns' super shooter Irene van Dyk - once again the most accurate shooter in the world - will be a highlight.

For two of the most experienced players in global netball - both in their fourth world championships - this may be their swansong.

Ellis predicts the more consistent side will win tonight.

"You can't let yourself go down at any quarter, you can't let yourself feel the tired legs, you can't let yourself drop at any stage. It's just going to be really consistent, simple netball."

Van Dyk was buoyed by last night's fightback: "At the beginning of the year Australia got ahead of us by 10 points and we couldn't fight back. Now we've crossed that barrier and we've realised there's more in the tank."

'Is your heart pounding like mine?'

A 19-year-old giant almost brought the Silver Ferns crashing down in one fell swoop of her dangling arms last night.


For three quarters of the world championship semifinal, Jamaica seemed poised to crush New Zealand's dreams of back-to-back world titles, using their 1.96m tall shooting sensation Romelda Aiken as their weapon.