NZ netballers extend winning run in Glasgow

Using their full contingent of players, New Zealand negated the threat of a well-performed Uganda to post a meritorious 58-50 win in a decisive pool clash at the Commonwealth Games netball tournament in Glasgow.

Coming into the match as the only unbeaten team in Pool B, New Zealand kept a clean sheet with a strong showing against the world’s sixth-ranked team, including a first taste of Games action for rising young defender Catherine Hall, who made an impressive showing after returning from injury.

The New Zealanders made multiple changes throughout the match, throwing up a host of playing options and combinations to keep other teams guessing going deeper into the tournament.

In most instances, the changes ticked over seamlessly, New Zealand taking charge during a dominant third quarter before a gallant Uganda responded with a strong closing quarter. However, after a rest day, New Zealand held the upper hand throughout, constantly ringing the changes with fresh legs and relentless energy while enjoying 11 more shots at goal than their opponents.

``Overall, it was a little bit disappointing for us at times,’’ New Zealand captain Karin Burger said.

``Every time we started increasing the lead, we let them come back into it, so we’re going to have to look at what we can do better on that front. Uganda are a quality side and they’ve really showed at this tournament what they can do and really brought it to us today.’’

Having won their previous six meetings with Uganda, it has not always been plain sailing for New Zealand, who were pressed hard before posting five-goal wins in the most recent encounters, in 2024.  In one of the games of the tournament to date, the She Cranes impressed with their hard-fought six-goal loss to a quality Jamaica the previous day.

Both sides made solid and accurate starts to the match, New Zealand impressing with their speedy delivery through court towards goal while Uganda gave every evidence of their ability to retain possession through their short sharp style of play.

A feature of the encounter was the clash between towering Uganda shooter Mary Cholhok, standing at 2.01m and Kelly Jackson, who were team-mates in the Australian league this year.

It remained tight and close through the opening stanza, New Zealand building a three-goal lead through a couple of defensive intercepts from centre Kate Heffernan, a late surge from Uganda getting them right back in the contest when trailing 15-14 at the first break for their first opening quarter loss of the tournament.

New Zealand made a raft of positional and personnel changes for the second stanza with Heffernan remaining the only player for New Zealand to stay in the same position. The New Zealanders took time to settle into the new line-up before making a strong response with Hall, at goalkeeper and Carys Stythe (goal defence) showing their athletic ability in increasing turnover opportunities.

Getting her first start of the tournament, shooter Amelia Walmsley worked in strongly with Georgia Heffernan to keep the scoreboard ticking over with Uganda showing signs of fatigue after four straight games.

Cholhok remained the key target under the hoop for the She Cranes while goal defence Gloria Ayaa impressed with her ability to snaffle ball despite a growing infringement count. Showing greater all-round accuracy and finishing, New Zealand had the better of proceedings to take a 28-25 lead into the main break.

In a familiar trend for the match, there were more changes for the third term, including Martina Salmon picking up the goal attack bib as the New Zealanders delivered a forceful 15 minutes.

Lifting the tempo, New Zealand produced some sparkling through-court transitional play with wing attack Maddy Gordon in the thick of action while the defensive end dented Uganda’s ability to gain consistent attacking momentum.

Piling on the pressure, New Zealand enjoyed a healthy share of the ball as Uganda faded under the pressure to fall behind by 11 goals. Scoring four in row late in the piece pegged the margin back but New Zealand went to the last break with a handy 44-35 lead.

With a hectic schedule to complete their pool matches – in a tournament involving seven matches in nine days – New Zealand will continue to closely monitor players’ loading when considering their line-ups for Thursday’s (6am, NZT) match against Wales, followed less than 24 hours later (Friday, 1am, NZT) with an outing against Trinidad & Tobago.