It followed a 22-goal win in Monday’s opening test and again it was all one-way traffic in today’s opening half. But showing some much-needed enterprise, England turned on a competitive second stanza to keep the Silver Ferns honest. However, all the damage had been done early on and there was no way back for the visitors.

In a match significant for two Silver Ferns milestones in particular, if couldn’t have been a better result.

After 10 years in charge, coach Ruth Aitken was handed a perfect farewell in her last test on New Zealand soil while evergreen shooter Irene van Dyk, 39, became the first player in history to achieve 200 test caps. Fittingly, the long-serving Aitken had her last match at home where it all began in Invercargill, in 2002, against Barbados. She will complete 10 years at the helm later this month with a three-test series across the Tasman against arch rivals Australia.

After making her debut in the opening test, exciting teenager Kayla Cullen got her first test start, at goal defence for the Silver Ferns in an otherwise predictable line-up. For England there were several changes, the most notable being the introduction of Rachel Shaw, 19, for her international debut, at goal attack.

Both teams made inauspicious starts before the Silver Ferns found their form, banishing basic turnovers to put England under the pump. The visitors were unable to execute the basics as the Silver Ferns went on a nine-goal scoring spree to gain the upper hand.

Throttling defensive pressure from Leana de Bruin, Cullen, Joline Henry and Laura Langman put England’s attack in disarray as the Silver Ferns romped out to a 14-5 first quarter advantage.

It was more of the same in the second stanza, the flow of the Silver Ferns continuing to grow while England’s turnover rate mounted. Playing like a teenager, van Dyk revelled in the freedom she found under the hoop while her side-kick Maria Tutaia was on the button with her trademark long-range shot.

At the other end Shaw was given a torrid initiation at the hands of the in-form de Bruin and Cullen, slotting just the one goal in the first half. Completely dominating all facets, the Silver Ferns took a commanding 29-11 lead into halftime.

The margin provided Aitken the luxury of several changes for the second half, including a new shooting duo. Cathrine Latu came on for her second test under the hoop, Paula Griffin was introduced for the first time in the series, at goal attack, and Anna Scarlett took over at goal defence for Cullen.

Griffin was on target from the outset, nailing the Silver Ferns first five shots while Latu turned provider, showing a deft touch with her timing and offloads. Taking over from Shaw, the entry of Jo Harten provided England with their most potent shooting combination of the game. In tandem with Rachel Dunn, the England pair ensured the score did completely blow out but they could not make any significant inroads as the Silver Ferns headed down the home straight well in control at 40-21.

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