[Ian Harkin]

#1287847

Amid The Passion, We Show The World
Heather Smith – Sydney Morning Herald

Netball came of age on Saturday night as seven young Australians provided an epic ending to one of the greatest sporting spectacles Sydney has been privileged to witness. Any lingering doubts about netball’s ability to rouse spectator passions were obliterated in the deafening roar produced by 10,500 people packed into the Sydney Entertainment Centre. They were responding to Australia’s snatching of a heart-stopping one-goal victory over defending champions New Zealand in the final of the world championships.

The world netball fraternity had waited impatiently for this clash, and all expectations were exceeded. Prime Minister Bob Hawke, a self-proclaimed connoisseur of sport, declared the final the most exciting sporting contest he’d seen. His colleague, Ros Kelly, the Federal Minister for Sport, Racing and Recreation, said the event surpassed the Rugby League Grand Final victory of her beloved Canberra Raiders in 1989. But the occasion needed no reassuring words from special guests and VIPs. It was a match which stood on its own, boasting two brilliant teams, a long tradition of sporting rivalry and the ultimate – the world crown – as the prize.

A film director could not have scripted it better. The pace was furious from the first whistle, the skill and ball control were exceptional, and to add extra spice, the difference between the sides was so slight that neither was able to draw more than four goals ahead for the entire hour of play. The drama of the occasion was amplified as the cheers from a vocal crowd -half of them New Zealanders – reached a crescendo in the final few minutes. It was ironic that the rock-steady New Zealand players, who had led -albeit narrowly – for most of the match, succumbed to the pressure induced by the electric atmosphere and the Australians’ desperation.

The last 60 seconds of the game passed too slowly for the coaches and players biting their nails on the bench. Goal attack Catriona Wagg scored with less than a minute remaining to put the Australians ahead 53-51, but New Zealand stayed in touch with a goal from shooter Tracy Eyrl-Shortland. The Australians’ hearts were in their mouths as a few seconds later, Kiwi captain Waimarama Taumaunu came up with the ball and sent it flying towards the goal circle. But Victorian Roselee Jencke, who replaced starting goal keeper Keeley Devery, came to Australia’s rescue to make the most important intercept of her life.

Jencke passed the ball to a teammate, and the relieved home side threw it around until the umpire’s whistle signalled full-time and a 53-52 victory for the joyous Australians. Tears mixed with laughter and screams of jubilation filled the Entertainment Centre as the sell-out crowd gave the new world champions a standing ovation. Australian captain Michelle Fielke said later the team lifted for a final effort in the dying minutes.

“We’ve never had a closer match,” she said. “The atmosphere was fantastic -it had a lot to do with us winning. There were lots of Kiwi supporters out there, but in the final five minutes the Australian supporters took over. The girls wanted it so badly, and they had the guts and the confidence to get through it. The game swayed back and forward and it came down to the last five minutes, and who wanted to win more. This makes up for 1987.”

Australian coach Joyce Brown lingered in the background, unwilling to claim any of her players’ glory. Throughout the tournament Brown said that Australia, although seeded second behind New Zealand, were the best team and would win their sixth world crown. Her belief in her players was vindicated as they stayed cool under tremendous pressure in the crucial stage of the match. “This is a reward for the absolute dedication to the tasks I had set them since last October,” she said.

The only cloud in the Australian camp was the ankle injury which prevented the vice-captain and wing attack Sue Kenny taking the court. Kenny fell during the semi-final against Jamaica and scraped a piece of bone off her ankle. She also has some strained ligaments, and will see a specialist.

For the New Zealanders, it was the end of an era, with both Taumaunu and veteran Sandra Edge announcing their retirements amid the disappointment of losing their coveted world title. Coach Lyn Parker said that “a little bit of experience, a little bit of knowing how to win the game at the end” cost the Kiwis dearly.

[Ian Harkin]

#1287848

From Netball Australia

[Ian Harkin]

#1287849

[Ian Harkin]

#1287850

From RNZ
The epic final that brought netball to a wider audience https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/414038/the-epic-final-that-brought-netball-to-a-wider-audience

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From Netball NZ
Hallmarks of a New Zealand captain – Wai Taumaunu https://www.silverferns.co.nz/silver-ferns-2015/news/latest-news/279-world-championship/2015/4681-celebrating-nwc2015-50-days-to-go.html

[Ian Harkin]

#1287851

England at the 1991 World Championships… https://www.ournetballhistory.org.uk/content/events/international-competition/world-cup/england-world-tournament-squad-1991

[Ian Harkin]

#1287852

From Netball Fan…
(pool games & semis)

[Ian Harkin]

#1287853

From Sebastian Luckai

[Ian Harkin]

#1287855

Summary from World Netball https://netball.sport/events-and-results/netball-world-cup/sydney-1991

[Ian Harkin]

#1287874

1995 – 9TH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (BIRMINGHAM, ENG)

In 1995, the 9th World Championships headed to Birmingham, and we witnessed a huge upset. Back from over two decades in the sporting wilderness, the South African team caused a real boilover when they toppled New Zealand in their group game. The Kiwis simply had no answer to young South African goal shooter Irene van Dyk.

After a blistering third quarter, the Proteas led by six goals. The Silver Ferns fought back in the last period, but a crucial late error in attack allowed South Africa to clinch an amazing win, 59-57. The stunning result had a huge impact on the tournament, as it meant Australia and New Zealand would meet far earlier than expected, and due to a strange competition format, only one of them could make the final.

As it turned out, it was yet another trans-Tasman classic. After a tense battle, Australia just got over the line 45-44 and advanced to the final against South Africa. Sadly though, Vicki Wilson suffered a serious knee injury during the game and she had to miss the final.

Jennifer Borlase did a splendid job as Wilson’s replacement, while Australian goal keeper Liz Ellis in her first world cup, was tremendous in her battle with van Dyk, the first of many meetings the pair would have in major tournaments. The Australian defence of Ellis, Michelle Fielke (den Dekker) and Simone McKinnis was relentless.

Believe it or not, this was actually the first time a trophy was presented to the winning team, and it was Australian captain Fielke who held it up gleefully after Australia won the final 68-48. Meanwhile, the New Zealand team was relegated to the third place playoff where they defeated England easily.

This was the biggest of all world cups with 27 nations competing, including for the first time Malawi, and fans got their first glimpse of the magical skills of Malawian shooter Mary Waya. Meanwhile, two more netball legends bowed out of world cups in Birmingham; Kendra Slawinski of England having been to four tournaments, and Jennifer Frank of Trinidad & Tobago who tied the record with five.

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From INF

[Ian Harkin]

#1287876

1st – AUSTRALIA
AVELLINO, Natalie
BORLASE, Jennifer
CUSACK, Nicole
ELLIS, Liz
FIELKE, Michelle (Captain)
HARBY, Kathryn
MCKINNIS, Simone
MURPHY, Marianne
O’DONNELL, Shelley
SUTTER, Sarah
TOMBS, Carissa
WILSON, Vicki
Coach: Jill McIntosh

2nd – SOUTH AFRICA
BASSON, Johrina
HALGRYN, Tessa
HAMMON, Debbie (Captain)
HERVERSON, Dominique
HUGO, Rese
KEEVERY, Laurie
KOPPERS, Annie
KOTZE, Elize
ODENENDAAL, Rene
ROSSOUW, Estelle
VAN DYK, Irene
VAN ZYL, Benita
Coach: Marlene Wagner

3rd – NEW ZEALAND
BLAIR, Belinda
DAWSON, Julie
EDGE, Sandra (Captain)
GOLD, Sharon
JERRAM, Carron
MATOE, Deborah
MENE, Bernice
NICOL, Lesley
ROWBERRY, Anna
SHORTLAND, Tracy
TARINGA, Elisa
TAURUA-BARNETT, Noeline
Coach: Leigh Gibbs

[Ian Harkin]

#1287877

COMPETITION FORMAT:
Top 2 teams from each 1st round group go to the 2nd round, with the winners of the two 2nd round groups meeting in the final.

GROUP A

Australia’s matches:
Aust 90 v St. Vincent &Grenadines 23
Aust 84 v Papua New Guinea 26
Aust 82 v Sri Lanka 19

Group order:
1. Australia
2. St Vincent & Grenadines
3. Papua New Guinea
4. Sri Lanka

GROUP B

New Zealand’s matches:
NZ 87 v Namibia 22
NZ 114 v Cayman Islands 15
NZ 57 v South Africa 59

South Africa’s matches:
SA 110 v Cayman Islands 22
SA 71 v Namibia 28
SA 59 v New Zealand 57

Group order:
1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. Namibia
4. Cayman Islands

Group C order:
1. Jamaica
2. Malawi
3. Hong Kong

Group D order:
1. England
2. Barbados
3. Northern Ireland
4. Singapore

Group E order:
1. Cook Islands
2. Unites States
3. Ireland
4. Malaysia

Group F order:
1. Trinidad & Tobago
2. Canada
3. Scotland
4. Malta

Group G order:
1. Western Samoa
2. Antigua Barbuda
3. Wales
4. Bermuda

[Ian Harkin]

#1287878

ROUND 2:

GROUP Y

South Africa’s matches:
SA 69 v St Vincent & Grenadines 60
SA 77 v Malawi 53
SA 77 v England 54
SA 76 v USA 30
SA 58 v Trinidad & Tobago 49
SA 75 v Antigua & Barbuda 45

Group order:
1. South Africa
2. England
3. Trinidad & Tobago
4. Malawi
5. St Vincent & Grenadines
6. Antigua & Barbuda
7. United States

GROUP Z

Australia’s matches:
Aust 45 v New Zealand 44
Aust 75 v Western Samoa 32
Aust 60 v Jamaica 51
Aust 79 v Cook Islands 45
Aust 69 v Barbados 33
Aust 82 v Canada 27

New Zealand’s matches:
NZ 44 v Australia 45
NZ 77 v Barbados 44
NZ 70 v Jamaica 52
NZ 60 v Western Samoa 31
NZ 81 v Cook Islands 49
NZ 78 v Canada 37

Group order:
1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. Jamaica
4. Cook Islands
5. Western Samoa
6. Barbados
7. Canada

GROUP Z ROUND 2 MATCH – AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND

AUSTRALIA WON 45-44
(15-15, 24-23, 34-31, 45-44)

AUSTRALIA:
GS Wilson
GA Cusack
WA O’Donnell
C Dalwood
WD McKinnis
GD Fielke
GK Ellis

Changes:
During 2nd Q. Borlase GS (Wilson).

Shooting stats:
Cusack 19/23 (82%)
Wilson 13/14 (92%)
Borlase 13/15 (87%)
TOTAL 45/52 (84%)

NEW ZEALAND:
GS Shortland
GA Taurua-Barnett
WA Edge
C Dawson
WD Nicol
GD Blair
GK Mene

Changes:
4th Quarter: Jerram GS (Shortland).

Shooting stats:
Taurua-Barnett 27/33 (82%)
Shortland 10/13 (77%)
Jerram 7/8 (87%)
TOTAL 44/54 (81%)

[Ian Harkin]

#1287879

Wilson injury mars win over New Zealand
Liz Ellis – THE SUNDAY AGE

THE sweet taste of Australia’s one goal victory over New Zealand on Thursday night has turned sour in the light of a serious injury to key shooter Vicki Wilson. Unfortunately for Wilson and for our world title defence, she has snapped the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, an injury that requires a full reconstruction. Yet despite Wilson’s injury there were several positives to emerge from the match, including Jennifer Borlase’s ability to slot in as goal shooter in Wilson’s absence.

Borlase is an experienced player and this showed through when she stepped on the court in the dying stages of the second quarter. We were only two goals up and we needed cool heads and steady hands precisely what Borlase provided. The match was also one where our teamwork and commitment to each other came to the fore. This was essential in the last five minutes of the match as we were down by a goal with just under two minutes to go.

Before we left Australia there were some question marks about our ability to pull together as a team when things got tough. I think that these can now be removed. I had all the faith in the world that we would pull through. Thankfully, we did, not quite with flying colours. But that doesn’t matter: a win is a win, whether by one goal or 100.

In the middle of our elation we did have time to feel sorry for the Silver Ferns. The way the draw is structured, the match was a do-or-die effort with the winning team virtually assured a place in the grand final. The losing team was merely assured six more games with little hope of a final berth. All the signs now point to an Australia-South Africa final.

Despite our three-Test drubbing of South Africa at home earlier this year they cannot be underestimated. Following their surprise two-goal victory over New Zealand, the Proteas look hungrier than ever. Shooter Irene Van Dyk has improved her skills and, more than ever, is the danger player in the South African line-up. It is this along with a better full-court defensive effort that has led to the South African resurgence.

I am confident of our chances should we both win through to the final. Even without Wilson, our attack end is a force to be reckoned with. Borlase and Natalie Avellino are both great back-ups and the speed and cunning of goal attack Nicole Cusack is enough to confuse the most astute defence. Centre Carissa Dalwood is producing the best netball of her career and Marianne Murphy and Shelley O’Donnell are both playing error-free netball. Coach Jill McIntosh also has a wealth of talent to choose from in the defence and with Sarah Sutter and myself standing at 186 and 183cm respectively and the athleticism of Michelle Fielke, Kath Harby and Simone McKinnis, virtually any combination will be effective.

I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a conspiracy against all goal keepers. With Jamaica, Western Samoa, Canada, the Cook Islands and of course South Africa boasting shooters taller than 183cm, poor Sarah Sutter and myself have an awful lot of jumping to do. In the meantime, we are implementing our survival tactics to get through the remaining matches. These include sightseeing, plenty of messages from our doctor, Grace Bryant, and physio, Leanne Taig, and getting out when we can for meals. Of course, one of the most important tactics is reading the faxes we are receiving from our supporters.

Our final survival tactic is rest. The last three days included Jamaica, New Zealand and Western Samoa, all of whom are physical and who have caused us a couple of sleepless nights. This was especially so after the New Zealand match where us ‘newies’ to world championships got a taste of the pressure of performance and of how good it feels to win. While the pressure was great and the feeling was good, the ‘oldies’ assure us that both will only increase for the South African match. After Thursday I’m ready! Bring on South Africa.

[Ian Harkin]

#1287880

CLASSIFICATION MATCHES:

25/26 Playoff: Ireland 48 def Malaysia 39
23/24 Playoff: Hong Kong 52 def Bermuda 42
21/22 Playoff: Cayman Islands 48 def Scotland 47
19/20 Playoff: Sri Lanka 63 def Singapore 53
17/18 Playoff: Wales 59 def Northern Ireland 50
15/16 Playoff: Papua New Guinea 69 def Namibia 45
13/14 Playoff: Canada 62 def USA 42
11/12 Playoff: Barbados 64 def Antigua 45
9/10 Playoff: W.Samoa 63 def St. Vincent 58
7/8 Playoff: Cook Islands 85 def Malawi 60
5/6 Playoff: Jamaica 63 def Trinidad & Tobago 40

3/4 PLAYOFF:
New Zealand 60 v England 31

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FINAL – AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA

AUSTRALIA WON 68-48
(17-9, 31-23, 51-35, 68-48)

AUSTRALIA:
GS Borlase
GA Cusack
WA O’Donnell
C Dalwood
WD McKinnis
GD Fielke
GK Ellis

Changes:
None

Shooting stats:
Borlase 37/41 (90%)
Cusack 31/36 (86%)
TOTAL 68/77 (88%)

SOUTH AFRICA:
GS van Dyk
GA Keevey
WA Hamman
C Harverson
WD van Zyl
GD Kloppers
GK Kotze

Changes:
3rd Quarter.. Halgran GK (Kotze).
4th Quarter.. Hugo GA (Keevey).

Shooting stats:
van Dyk 42/46 (91%)
Keevey 5/7 (71%)
Hugo 1/1 (100%)
TOTAL 48/54 (89%)

Crowd: 7500

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FINAL PLACINGS:

1. AUSTRALIA
2. South Africa
3. New Zealand
4. England
5. Jamaica
6. Trinidad & Tobago
7. Cook Islands
8. Malawi
9. Western Samoa
10. St. Vincent & Grenadines
11. Barbados
12. Antigua & Barbuda
13. Canada
14. United States
15. Papua New Guinea
16. Namibia
17. Wales
18. Northern Ireland
19. Sri Lanka
20. Singapore
21. Cayman Islands
22. Scotland
23. Hong Kong
24. Bermuda
25. Ireland
26. Malaysia
27. Malta

[Ian Harkin]

#1287881

Ellis blocks Boks to net title
Heather Smith & AAP – Sydney Morning Herald

The Australian team stormed through to retain their world title yesterday, ending South Africa’s dream comeback to top international netball. Australia won 68-48 in the final, successfully defending the crown won from New Zealand by one goal in Sydney in 1991. While the Australians proved they had the stamina to outlast the tiring South Africans – back at the world championship for the first time since 1967 – they also blocked out 190cm goalshooter Irene van Dyk with cleverly crafted centre-court play and a great performance by 183cm goalkeeper Liz Ellis.

The South Africans had only 54 attempts at goal to Australia’s 77, with van Dyk posting a 91 per cent success rate with her 42 goals from 46 shots. Jenny Borlase landed 37 from 41 attempts for Australia, and Nicole Cusack supported strongly at goal attack with 31 goals. Elated Australian captain Michelle Fielke said there was nothing better than winning a second successive title.

“When you’ve been in two you really realise the importance of four years apart; there’s just so much effort that goes into winning a world championship,” she said. “And it was a real team effort there today. “We played very tight defence all over the court and that forced the South Africans into more errors.”

Ellis cut off many passes to van Dyk, but the whole team played strongly to keep the ball away from the opposition goal circle. “A lot of our centre-court players had great defensive games; it made it a lot easier,” Fielke said. “Liz’s elevation was incredible. She played a great game. She just cut Irene out and rebounded very strongly, and she’ll be there for a few years yet.”

Australia boast a superb record of only one loss in five years. And while they revelled in sheer ecstasy after their one-goal defeat of New Zealand in the 1991 world final, the over-riding feeling yesterday was one of relief, according to Sydney’s Carissa Dalwood. “It was just so good to hear the final whistle blow because we couldn’t let up for a minute against the South Africans,” Dalwood said.

A Sydney tickertape parade for the team will be considered by the State Government, Premier Bob Carr said. “This is I think the most popular sport in the country but it doesn’t get the status that other sports get,” Carr said yesterday. “I think these are real champions and they deserve a great deal of credit.”

The team, which has won seven of the nine world titles held since 1963, ranks among this country’s most successful sporting sides. The women in green and gold have lost a mere 13 matches in 117 internationals in the past 11 years. Only New Zealand, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago have defeated them in that time.

The 12-player national squad is performing under the tutelage of Jill McIntosh, but former coach Joyce Brown is considered responsible for Australia’s reign on the world scene. Brown, appointed national coach in September 1990, coached the side to 37 Test victories – 33 consecutively – as well as the 1991 world championship before her retirement last November. She instilled dedication, professionalism and sheer hard work into her players. The 1995 world championship team – selected by Brown just before stepping down – is largely a product of her making.

While Australia’s leading netballers have progressed significantly from the days of asphalt courts and orange quarters at half-time, there are likely to be more changes before the next world tournament in New Zealand in 1999. An expanded national league competition and a move towards professionalism for national team players is underway.

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