The cold weather in London couldn’t dampen the spirits of a packed Copper Box Arena crowd as the World Champions and world number five met for the final time on court at the 2022 Netball Quad Series.
With the third place medal on the line, Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua elected for an experienced lineup of Maia Wilson (GS), Tiana Metuarau (GA), Gina Crampton (WA), Clare Kersten (C), Karin Burger (WD), Kayla Johnson (GD) and Kelly Jury (GK), while SPAR Proteas head coach Dorette Badenhorst’s lineup was largely unchanged, with Ine Mari Venter (GS), Lefebre Rademan (GA), Izette Griesel (WA), Bongiwe Msomi (C), Monique Reyneke (WD), Nicola Smith (GD) and Phumza Maweni (GK).
The Proteas continued to exert their defensive influence from the first whistle, with their man-on pressure forcing the Ferns into uncharacteristic errors and creating an intercept opportunity for Griesel on the line.
SA took an early lead with Maweni and Smith again combining well to pick off any loose passes. Wilson showed she had learned her lessons from the previous evening, however, using the front of the circle to split the Proteas defenders. As the Ferns recovered to take a one-goal lead, Badenhorst again showed she was not afraid to look to her bench early, giving Chawane the nod to run on at WD. The first quarter ended 14-13 the way of the Ferns, promising another close match for the London crowd.
At the start of the second quarter, Sulu Fitzpatrick took the court for the Ferns at GK while Simone Rabie came on at GD for the Proteas. The Proteas continued to show their class, using their full three seconds on the ball and utilising their fake passes to see off the Ferns’ many attempts to intercept. Rademan’s timing and speed proved crucial for the attack line as they worked the ball calmly around the circle, their tempo controlled by captain Msomi who continued to back up her teammates through the court.
At the other end, the Ferns began to let the ball go more confidently, no doubt to the delight of Taurua and the bench. Yesterday’s Player of the Match Phoenix Karaka took the court at GD and had an immediate impact, shutting off Rademan while teammates Kersten and Fitzpatrick drew gasps from the crowd with clean intercepts. The Celtic Dragons GA put up a last minute shot on the buzzer, finishing the first half 28-25 to the New Zealand side.
After shooting 24 goals at 96% in the first half, Wilson continued to use her angles to create screens and find space in the circle. The Proteas continued to show tenacity, however, taking the lead after some acrobatics from Venter to keep the ball in play.
With three minutes remaining of the third quarter, Chawane made arguably the best turnover of the game so far, putting her body on the line to keep the ball in play and deliver it to the hands of her Proteas teammates. In response, Karin Burger increased her hustle in the Ferns defensive end, picking off a low ball around the edge of the circle to return possession to the team in black. The third qu arter ended 39-38 to the Proteas, keeping the crowd pinned to their seats for the final period of the match.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Ferns reminded the crowd why they are World Champions, tightening up their zone through the middle of the court and forcing the Proteas to pass cross-court and into the Ferns hands. Metaurau began to find space in the circle, taking strong drives to post and carving up the Proteas defensive pairing.
Fans of Team Bath watched in awe as Maweni gained a crucial turnover, before Venter picked up an attacking rebound to keep the ball in play for the Proteas and bring the score within touching distance into the final minute.
In the dying seconds Griesel took a heavy challenge, grimacing as she held her knee but jumping back up to deliver a crucial assist for the Proteas, the final score 51-50 to the Silver Ferns.
Clare Kersten was awarded Player of the Match to raucous applause from the Copper Box Arena crowd.
