Commonwealth Games: Silver Ferns face Australia for gold

As if preordained in netball heaven, the Silver Ferns are to defend their Commonwealth Games title against world champions Australia.

New Zealand beat Jamaica 59-43 in one semifinal in New Delhi today, impressing more than did Australia, who came from behind to ease past a combative England 51-45.

And so the final will be a rematch of the every Games netball final since the sport joined in 1998.

Australia won heart-stoppers in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Manchester in 2002, while New Zealand took sweet and memorable revenge in Melbourne four years ago.

Jamaica troubled the Silver Ferns early only, as shooter Romelda Aiken was fed a series of high balls from the midcourt, used her massive reach to pull them in, and never missed a shot.

With the New Zealand attack missing twice, the match was locked up 17-17 at quarter time.

Coach Ruth Aitken took off goalkeeper Anna Scarlett at the end of the quarter, sent captain Casey Williams back to take care of Aiken, and gave the defensive hunting job at golf defence to Leana de Bruin.

It was a move that cut the number of Jamaican goals by half, setting up a 32-25 halftime lead and putting New Zealand on their way to a fourth consecutive final.

New Zealand led 43-36 at the end of the third quarter, then put the foot down firmly to take the match 59-43, with Aiken leaving the court late in the game have been severely restricted by Williams.

Once the Silver Ferns cut off the ball supply to Aiken -- at 1.91m the tallest player on court - Jamaica were bereft of ideas.

"Get it to Romelda" seemed their Plan A with one-handed bombs coming in from all directions, and even goal attack Simone Forbes opting to offload rather than shoot.

At the other end of the court, goal attack Maria Tutaia with her long range shooting was a perfect foil for Irene van Dyk under the net, leaving the Silver Ferns midcourt with a range of feeding options.

Jamaica made a mini revival midway through the third spell, when the Silver Ferns twice tried longer balls which went astray, prompting Aitken to send out "tighten it up" orders from the sideline.

New Zealand put up 68 shots at an 87 percent success rate - van Dyk landed 32 from 32 -- with the Sunshine Girls taking 57 at a hit rate of 75 percent, poor at international level.

Aitken told reporters she was delighted with the effort.

"It was a marvellous performance, it was a really hard game and I thought Jamaica were outstanding, but we kept working and kept to the game plan," she said.

"In a couple of quarters some of our attacking was the best we've had."

Apart from switching on de Bruin for Scarlett, Aitken stayed with the same lineup throughout - with van Dyk and Tutaia in the attacking circle, Temepara George at wing attack, Laura Langman at centre and Joline Henry at wing defence.

Liana Barrett-Chase substituted George for part of the third quarter.

Australia looked vulnerable as England looked like pulling off the upset until stalling on the charge in the second half.

Pacy shooters Sharelle McMahon and Natalie Medhurst went at 91 percent - the best of the day - as Australia fought their way back, and into the final.