The Silver Ferns wrapped up their two-test tour of Glasgow with a comprehensive 80-48 victory over the Scottish Thistles yesterday morning.
It was far from a clinical performance from the Silver Ferns - the Thistles posted their highest score against New Zealand - but it was another chance to test combinations ahead of the three tests against England, starting on Sunday.
They will be pleased with the final quarter, though, winning 20-7.
Maddy Gordon cemented her spot as the starting wing attack with 31 feeds and 24 goal assists in just the first half.
Gordon was the most accurate and dominant feeder, cutting great lines, getting depth and putting the ball on a plate for Grace Nweke.
Captain Karin Burger was pleased her side were more polished than the first test, where they were ‘‘cobwebby’’.
But she acknowledged it was not a 60 minute performance as they look to build different combinations ahead of the Commonwealth Games next year.
‘‘It’s understanding that this is the nature of this tournament,’’ Burger said.
‘‘We’re trying to get a lot of players out there, we’re trying different combinations. We had to do that.
‘‘[These are] the kind of games we have to do that, so it’s not always going to be clean, it’s not always going to look the best.’’
The Thistles took an early lead through the sharp shooting of Niamh McCall.
But Carys Stythe put a stop to their roll, getting a tip off her hands over pressure on the ball.
Gordon got great depth in the pocket, allowing her to find the space into Nweke far too easily, but the Thistles forced a held ball off the Silver Ferns centre pass and closed the gap to two.
Cerys Finn set up early on Nweke, forcing the misplaced pass, and the Thistles pounced.
The Silver Ferns held a 21-15 lead at the break.
They made several changes - including Georgia Heffernan in to goal attack, who went direct to Nweke.
Her sister, Kate, moved into centre and teamed nicely with Gordon. They anchored each channel and the centre gave Gordon the room to hit circle edge and be the dominant feeder.
It became all too easy for them to find Nweke and they led 44-27 at halftime.
Catherine Hall teamed with Stythe in the circle for the second half, the two youngsters familiar with each other from their time at the Northern Mystics.
Their long reach put the Scottish shooters off and gave fans a glimpse to the future of the Silver Ferns’ defensive circle.
Martina Salmon was injected at goal shoot and the Silver Ferns took a while to adjust to the change, especially without Gordon. Peta Toeava did not have the same punch and the Silver Ferns were not as direct.
• Silver Ferns interim assistant coach Liana Leota has not travelled with the team to Scotland for family reasons.
Former Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu, who was brought into the team as support after coach Dame Noeline Taurua was stood down, has travelled to support the team in her high performance role.
It is unclear if Leota will be joining the team for their three tests against England.
Silver Ferns v Scotland
The scores
Silver Ferns 80
Grace Nweke 34/37, Amelia Walmsley 13/16, Georgia Heffernan 9/9, Martina Salmon 24/26.
Scotland 48
Emma Barrie 20/24, Niamh McCall 14/16, Cerys Cairns 8/11, Beth Goodwin 6/7
Quarter scores: Silver Ferns 21-15, 44-27, 60-41.
