The England Roses claimed an exciting series win in New Zealand, winning two games to one and taking home with them the Taini Jamison trophy. We have your series wrap, highlights and what both teams will be up to next.
Contributors: Tobbey Keddy, Kariba McGinn + Nicole Mudgway
Images: Danny Dalton + May Bailey
RESULTS
Test 1
England Roses 59 def NZ Silver Ferns 58
NZ:
Grace Nweke 49/55 (89%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio 7/8 (88%)
Maia Wilson 2/2 (100%)
Total: 58/65 (89%)
Eng:
Liv Tchine 41/45 (91%)
Helen Housby 18/21 (86%)
Total: 59/66 (89%)
MVP: Funmi Fadoju (5 gains, 3 intercepts, 4 deflections)
Debutantes: Claire O’Brien, Parris Mason
Test 2
England Roses 59 def NZ Silver Ferns 55
NZ:
Grace Nweke 43/51 (84%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio 11/13 (85%)
Maia Wilson 1/1 (100%)
Total: 55/65 (85%)
Eng:
Liv Tchine 41/46 (89%)
Helen Housby 14/17 (82%)
Berri Neil 4/5 (80%)
Total: 59/68 (87%)
MVP: Liv Tchine (41/46, 1 deflection, 1 rebound, 0 turnovers)
Milestone: Maia Wilson (50 tests)
Test 3
NZ Silver Ferns 61 def England Roses 56
NZ:
Grace Nweke 48/52 (92%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio 13/14 (93%)
Total: 61/66 (92%)
Eng:
Liv Tchine 34/36 (94%)
Helen Housby 18/22 (82%)
Lois Pearson 4/7 (57%)
Total: 56/65 (86%)
MVP: Kelly Jackson (3 gains, 4 deflections, 1 pickup)
Kate Heffernan surprisingly finished the series with only one intercept across the two games she got on court. Image – Danny Dalton
1ST TEST
Trusts Arena (Auckland/Tāmaki-Makaurau)
As Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio commented, the first test of the 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy closely mirrored last year’s opener, with the Roses clinching a narrow 59-58 victory over the Ferns.
Kimiora Poi made her return to the Ferns after two years, starting at wing attack with Whitney Souness notably absent from the matchday lineup. Debutantes Claire O’Brien and Parris Mason made strong first appearances, with O’Brien delivering 19 feeds and Mason contributing a critical intercept in the closing stages.
England’s minimal changes helped maintain their stability, with standout performances from Helen Housby and Liv Tchine in the circle, and Imogen Allison in the midcourt. MVP Funmi Fadoju was pivotal in defence. She collected five crucial gains to keep the Ferns at bay, with her elevation and anticipation causing problems for all of the New Zealand feeders.
Despite a strong start to the match, the Ferns struggled to maintain momentum, rotating their attack with Maia Wilson replacing Ekenasio for parts of the match, and O’Brien, Maddy Gordon, and Poi alternating through the midcourt. On defence, Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger caused trouble for England’s shooters, but the Ferns were hampered by penalties, accumulating 64 to the Roses’ 47.
The match was close throughout with 10 lead changes and the margin for each quarter was no more than one goal. England led for much of the second half, but it looked like New Zealand might take the win when they hit the front with under three minutes remaining. It was Fadoju who came up with the crucial intercept to turn the match back England’s way. The Roses then showed great composure to calmly play out the closing stages and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Berri Neil only saw 15 minutes of court time this series, in Test 2.
Image – May Bailey | Clusterpix Photo
2ND TEST
Te Rauparaha Arena (Wellington/Te Whanganui-A-Tara)
A dominant third quarter from the English Roses proved to be the difference as they had a 59-55 series clinching win. After a tight tussle in test one, test two was more of a see-saw affair as consistency over four quarters was not seen by either team.
Berri Neil started the game at goal attack for England, but the Housby-less Roses lacked attacking connection and leadership, and Neil was replaced at quarter time. Once Housby entered the game in quarter two, the Roses went up a gear. She combined beautifully with goal shooter Liv Tchine who was awarded the MVP. Shooting 41 goals from 46 attempts (89%), Tchine positioned herself into the front space, which gave her midcourt an easy feed into the circle and took Kelly Jackson out of the game.
Another standout for the Roses was Lois Pearson who no Silver Ferns player could shut down. She had the most feeds (47), goal assists (24), and centre pass receives (26) on court, showcasing that so early in her career, she will be a steady pair of hands for the Roses attack for years to come.
The Silver Ferns had an energetic start, thanks largely to the Central Pulse-centered defence end of Parris Mason and Kelly Jackson, but they lost fluidity and momentum as the game went on. Noeline Taurua made numerous changes, with key players Maddy Gordon, Amelieranne Ekenasio and Kate Heffernan going to the bench, but the replacements failed to create an impact.
Imogen Allison had another strong international series for the Roses. Image – May Bailey | Clusterpix Photo
3RD TEST
ILT Stadium Southland (Invercargill/Waihopai)
With the Roses having already secured the trophy after winning the first two games, the Silver Ferns entered the final match playing for pride and a much-needed victory. Unlike the previous two tests, coach Noeline Taurua stuck solid with her starting seven throughout the 60 minutes and they rewarded her with a strong performance, eventually winning 61-56.
For New Zealand, Claire O’Brien stepped up brilliantly and combined well with Maddy Gordon in the midcourt.The Ferns’ defensive end, of Kelly Jackson, Parris Mason, and Karin Burger, was instrumental in the win, combining for an impressive 10 possession gains. Jackson capped off a fine series with the MVP award and her combination with Mason is one of the biggest positives for New Zealand to take away from this series.
The Ferns built a four-goal buffer by halftime and maintained the lead despite the Roses winning the third quarter once again. The Roses have only lost one third quarter in the last 15 meetings between these two teams. At three quarter time, the margin was just one goal, and local fans were getting nervous, but New Zealand regained control in the fourth quarter, and a crucial offensive foul allowed New Zealand to secure the win by running down the clock.
Liv Tchine had another strong showing for the Roses, finishing with an impressive 94%, while Lois Pearson shone once again in the wing attack position with 24 feeds. In the fourth quarter however, with New Zealand’s lead growing, coach Jess Thirlby replaced Tchine and moved Pearson into the circle. She struggled somewhat, shooting just 4/7, suggesting her future for England may be more suited to the midcourt.
WHAT WORKED
- England’s third quarter: England’s ability to dominate the third quarter was a defining feature of their success in the Taini Jamison series. The Roses consistently used the third period to seize momentum and pull ahead, outscoring the Silver Ferns significantly. In what is commonly referred to as “the championship quarter,” the third quarter sets the tone for the final stages of the match. England’s strategic adjustments, sharp execution, and ability to capitalize on turnovers during this crucial phase helped them create game-winning leads, making it a cornerstone of their victories throughout the series.
- Liv Tchine and Helen Housby (England): With Eleanor Cardwell ruled out for the Taini Jamison series, there were concerns about the impact of her absence. However, Tchine and Housby quickly dispelled any doubts, becoming a formidable pairing throughout the series. Tchine’s sharp shooting accuracy (91% for the series) combined with Housby’s leadership and playmaking ability in the shooting circle proved pivotal to England’s success
- Gains in defence (New Zealand): While Tchine, Housby and the rest of the England attack generally worked very well during the series, it was noticeable that the New Zealand defence was able to win ball off them at crucial times. Kelly Jackson had 14 possession gains during the three tests while Parris Mason picked up eight in just over two games. A lot of that came from rebounding where the Silver Ferns had a distinct advantage. New Zealand won the overall possession gains count 33-15 for the series, but unfortunately, this superiority was largely cancelled out by costly turnovers.
WHAT WAS CHALLENGING
- England’s rebounding: England struggled throughout the series to take rebounds at either end of the court. The final rebound tally was an astounding 30-5 in favour of New Zealand. In the shooting circle, England missed with 25 of their attempts and of these, they were only able to rebound three. Compare that to New Zealand with Grace Nweke rebounding 16 of their 22 misses. The Roses provided a significant amount of second chances to the Ferns and while they weren’t able to capitalise, other teams like the Diamonds and their November opponents, Jamaica, will make them pay. There was a height mismatch in the Silver Ferns shooting circle, so it was surprising that Alice Harvey (190cm) wasn’t given an opportunity for the Roses.
- New Zealand’s wing attack: At the start of the series, Whitney Souness, Kimiora Poi and Claire O’Brien came in with a massive opportunity to take the starting bib of Wing Attack. The more experienced players, Souness and Poi, were largely shut down by their English counterparts with their lack of penetration down the middle of the court and their reluctance to feed over Fadoju and Williams. Of the three, debutante Claire O’Brien created the most stability and consistency in the position with her healthy blend of Aussie-Kiwi flair. But her ability to go up another gear against the Diamonds in Constellation Cup will truly reveal whether she is here to stay.
- Shutting down Lois Pearson: Lois Pearson was the most consistent player during the Taini Jamison series. Consistently in the top 3 for Feeds, Assists and Centre Pass Receives, her finesse with the ball was near unstoppable. Pearson went up against strong competition in the midcourter of the 2023 Netball World Cup, Kate Heffernan and 57-test Fern Karin Burger. However, those two players managed only 4 interceptions the entire series. Every top team needs a standout wing defence, and currently, this is a position the Ferns are lacking. Is it time to consistently place either Burger or Heffernan in the position? Does New Zealand need to bring in a specialist wing defence like Georgie Edgecombe or Sam Winders?
KEY PLAYERS
- Lois Pearson (England): Pearson was a pivotal player in all three tests. Her precise feeding, court vision, and ability to maintain the attack’s rhythm made her a key figure in England’s midcourt.
- Funmi Fadoju (England): Throughout the series, Fadoju’s athleticism, timing, and ability to read the game allowed her to consistently disrupt New Zealand’s attack, particularly in the first and second tests, where she played a key role in England’s wins to secure the series.
- Grace Nweke (New Zealand): As expected, Nweke was a consistent and dominant force in the Silver Ferns’ shooting circle throughout the Taini Jamison series. Her impressive shooting accuracy was crucial in keeping New Zealand competitive across all three games. Despite her consistent misses in Test 2, her ability to rebound and play through her shooting struggles were crucial. Nweke consistently faced intense defensive pressure from England; however, her ability to maintain her connection with the midcourt and handle physical challenges made her invaluable.
- Claire O’Brien (New Zealand): Making her debut for the Silver Ferns, O’Brien quickly established herself as a vital part of New Zealand’s midcourt, especially in the third test of the 2024 Taini Jamison series. Her speed, composure, and accuracy in feeding the circle were instrumental in helping the Ferns secure their 61-56 victory in the final test.
- Parris Mason and Kelly Jackson (New Zealand): Mason and Jackson have emerged as a fierce defensive force for the Silver Ferns during the Taini Jamison series, possibly solidifying their spot as the starting defensive combination. Jackson and Mason are an established pair, working together in the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse defensive circle and this paid off in the Taini Jamison series. Jackson, with her towering presence and experience, used her height to challenge aerial balls and frustrate shooters, and Mason, injected explosive speed and legibility, hunting for intercepts and deflections.
NEXT UP
For the England Roses they head home and face off against the Jamaican Sunshine Girls in a series in November. After their tour down under to both Australia and New Zealand, as a Roses fan you would be feeling pretty positive. Both series unearthed new players on the international court and a some strong performances will give coach Jess Thirlby plenty to ponder.
The Silver Ferns face the Australian Diamonds in the Constellation Cup with the first two tests at home. Knowing these will be the last tests that Grace Nweke will be wearing the black dress for a while, will surely see minutes to Amelia Walmsley in the shooting circle.
