Sport

Silver Ferns crush England

22:41 pm on 13 October 2008

The New Zealand netballers have crushed England 65-26 in Auckland in the first of three tests.

the Silver Ferns were primed for a close contest after England's strong performance in Australia, where they went close to winning the first test.

But England's chances of repeating their home win in May last year foundered quickly, thanks to faultless first-quarter shooting from Irene van Dyke and Maria Tutaia (Pron Tuta-air).

Both missed early in the second quarter but with Casey Williams and Jolene Henry dominating the defensive end England couldn't get the ball to their shooters quickly enough for them to have a chance of closing the gap.

Ruth Aitken reshuffled her side after half-time and England's coach Sue Hawkins made her first changes in the second quarter.

Sue Hawkins refused to use the absence of her injured key defender Geva Mentor as an excuse.

and says England is capable of a much better performance in Dunedin Wednesday night.

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