McMahon, Gerrard injured in netball bloodbath

Player of the Series Catherine Cox lining up for goal. Photo © Eleven11 Photography

The Australian Netball Team were left battered and bruised after a physical tussle with the Silver Ferns at the Sydney Superdome last night. The Kiwi's took full advantage of the match conditions, including lack of umpiring control, to leave the Aussie's in their wake 50-43.

It was a fast and furious battle for the first half of the match with the Silver Ferns slightly edging out the Aussie side 30-27. The first half dealt two injury scares to the Australian side when Vice-Captain Sharelle McMahon rolled her ankle and Wing Defense Mo'onia Gerrard injured her left knee and had to be carried from the court.

Megan Anderson replaced McMahon in the goal circle and Swifts' defender Ali Broadbent replaced Gerrard.

The Kiwi side was able to extend their lead in the second half of the match. This was due to fluent play down the court and highly accurate shooting, but the Australian crowd was unhappy with what they saw as an increase in rough house tactics from key New Zealand players Vilimaina Davu and Temepera George.

At one stage the crowd booed and called for Davu to be removed from the game after she heavily collided with Australia's Nat Avellino.

The Silver Ferns physical brand of defence bordered on harassment and it rattled Australia's shooters who shot below average at 68%. Australian Wing Attack Nat Avellino said, "We were on the floor more than we were up. It's very disappointing but what do you do?"

The game lacked a sense of control from the umpires who had trouble containing the passion, history and rivalry of the two teams. This translated into players who were exasperated. And this frustration was taken out by unnecessary physicality between opponents.

The body blows out on court did not amuse Australian coach Norma Plummer who said, "It was a fight out there. It wasn't netball".

While the Australians are disappointed by their loss, they will be taking the lessons from this game with them to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Norma Plummer said, "We have to go back to the drawing board and have a look at what boxing matches we take on and see how much tougher we can get.

"We came out second best on that. Either we have to stand up to it or we pack our bags and go home."

The speed and feeding ability of Kiwi centre, Temepara George, was rewarded with the Player of the Match.

While Australian shooter Catherine Cox was awarded with the coveted Holden car for winning Player of the Series.

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