Dame Noeline not happy with Silver Ferns start against Aotearoa men

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua admits some of her players took a while to settle in the opening game against the Aotearoa Men in Wellington.

The understrength men’s team got off to a fast start to lead 16-9 at the first quarter.

Maia Wilson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit were only shooting around 60 percent, so were benched.

The Silver Ferns started applying more defensive pressure and shooter Grace Nweke made a great impact.

The Ferns came back strongly to tie it 24-all at half-time.

The Ferns led by one going into the final spell and Kelly Jury and Karin Burger continued to win ball on defence.

Dame Noeline admits her side was probably thrown off their game early by the physicality of the men.

“I think it took us a while to be able to settle, not as a team, just some individuals at certain times,” Taurua said.

“We probably got caught in regards to coming off our technique too fast, too soon, but we were able to settle.

Captain Gina Crampton, who missed most of the recent England series through injury, says they knew they were going to be in for a physical battle.

“Grind was a big word for us tonight and I think we did that in the first three-quarters and then all that work paid off in the last quarter and we could open it up a bit,” Crampton said.

Grace Nweke shot 39 from 44 for the Ferns, while defender Karin Burger was named MVP.

The Silver Ferns will want to address their shooting accuracy before tomorrow’s second match.

They ended the game with 67 percent accuracy compared to the men’s 94 percent.

Game two of the 3-match series is tonight.