She was a revelation for the visitors with 31 feeds and 24 goal assists in just the first half of the Silver Ferns 80-48 victory against the Scottish Thistles in Glasgow this 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.
Gordon was the most accurate and dominant feeder for the Silver Ferns, cutting great lines, getting depth and putting the ball on a plate for Grace Nweke.
The Thistles jumped out to 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 in the pocket.
The Thistles lost wing attack Emma Love in the opening five minutes to what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Gordon got great depth in the pocket, allowing her to find the space into Nweke far too easily.
They helped creep their side forward to a five-goal lead.
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.
Georgia Heffernan struck early with a direct long ball into 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 just became all too easy for the Silver Ferns to find Nweke.
Mason snaffled a through-court ball and Karin Burger came around the body to pick up another.
It helped the Silver Ferns to an 11-point lead.
Scottish goal defence Emily Nicholl grabbed her own back and Emma Barrie landed a long-range shot to reward.
Nicholl and Rachel Conway started to put Nweke under more pressure, forcing the Silver Ferns shooter to come out of the circle and off the body.
The Silver Ferns put their foot down to lead 44-27 at half time.
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 into 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 without Nweke – or Gordon at wing attack.
Peta Toeava did not have the same punch and the Silver Ferns were not as clinical as they would have hoped.
To the Thistles credit, they started to force the Silver Ferns deep and wide, and rewarded their defenders at the other end.
It was much better quarter for the home side only losing it by two, but the Silver Ferns held a 60-41 lead at the break.
The Silver Ferns put their foot down in the final quarter, stunting the Thistles’ ball flow and keeping them to just the seven goals.
Silver Ferns 80 (Grace Nweke 34/37, Amelia Walmsley 13/16, Georgia Heffernan 9/9, Martine 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.
