Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
National coach Connie Francis. CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (CMC):
Reigning world champions New Zealand outclassed Jamaica 80-36 in a lopsided first match of their two-Test series at the Westpac Arena on Thursday night.
New Zealand led the quarters 22-9, 41-21, 59-29 and whipped the World No.3 Sunshine Girlz by 44 goals in an awesome performance as the teams continued their preparation for the World Netball Championship (WNC) in November.
"We played a really flat game. We didn't start and we didn't finish," Jamaica's coach Connie Francis said after the game.
"It was a sloppy game," added Francis, a former Jamaica international.
Game two will be played at the Trusts Stadium in Auckland tonight.
After crippling visiting Jamaica with a blistering first quarter, the Silver Ferns maintained their dominance to lead by a handsome 20 goals at the half and then outscored the Caribbean champions 18-8 in the third quarter and a massive 21-7 in the last frame.
Irene Van Dyk logged a top game for the Silver Ferns, scoring 36 of 37 for 97 per cent shooting as they ran out 44-goal winners.
"I thought our team was just superb tonight and I'm very proud of them," Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said after the game.
The tall defensive duo of Casey Williams, who had a stellar night, and Leana de Bruin were effective foils for the aerial ball which is so much a part of the Jamaican game.
The Silver Ferns, who unseated Australia as world champions at the 2003 WNC in Jamaica and also took the Aussies' Commonwealth Games gold medal away from them in Melbourne last year March, were very impressive in all facets of our game.
Their defensive efforts denied the Jamaicans any chance of playing their natural game. On attack, the New Zealanders bewildered their opponents with speed, vision and ability to get the ball away quickly as they raced away to a record score against Jamaica, who were coming off a 2-0 series loss to Australia.
"They (Jamaica) weren't allowed to show any flair," Aitken said.
"They were just squashed. Our pressure through the court and the speed of the ball wore them down and they lost heart, but I was pleased we kept our momentum," coach Aitken added.
