SILVER FERNS VS

Australia

DATE:

Sunday 11 October 2009

VENUE:

MENS Arena Manchester

SCORES

Silver Ferns score 1st

5-4

10-7

(5-3)

24-11

(14-4)

Power play – A & SF

27-17

(3-6)

The Silver Ferns turned the tables on Australia to win their semi final and will now play in the Final against Jamaica who also upset unbeaten England in their semi final.

The Silver Ferns started strongly and raced away to an early lead after the defensive pairing of Williams and Grant rattled the Australian shooters into early misses. Australian GS, Kate Beveridge was then substituted for veteran Catherine Cox who was accurate with her early attempts.

The Silver Ferns midcourt pairing of Temepara George and Laura Langman were slick on attack, finding the circle edge with ease and putting their shooters into great shooting range. Paula Griffin was introduced to the game in the first quarter replacing Tutaia at GA and made an immediate impact, combining well with Player of the Match, Irene van Dyk.

Both teams played their power plays in the 3rd quarter but it was the Ferns who dominated in this crucial quarter outscoring the Australians 14 – 4 to go into the last quarter with an impressive 13 goal margin that was always going to be difficult for Australia to pull back in 6 minutes.

Jamaica were on fire in the play off 1 v 4, with nothing to lose, they dominated England from the start, leading in every quarter. England surprised many by starting without their top shooter Jo Harten and while she came on in the first quarter and sunk some long range shots from outside the circle, they were never able to catch Jamaica who extended their lead with every mistake England made and won 33-22.