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Silver Ferns 53 Aotearoa Men 57
Fourth quarter
15th minute - Feed to Geldard isn't to hand and the Ferns can close with a run here. Metuarau scores, MEN 56-51
Nweke misses, but Goldsmark-White is called for obstruction. Nweke scores, MEN 56-52
Nweke has the final say, but it's not enough to prevent the men prevailing 57-53. A much-improved performance that saw them 15 goals up at one stage, before a spirited Ferns comeback.
13th minute - The Ferns have made a comback, but Geldard steadies his side, MEN 55-48
Godsmark-White swoops for an intercept, but can't bring the ball in. Metuarau scores, MEN 56-50
11th minute - Kersten makes a defensive steal and Nweke goals, MEN 53-46
Metuarau is called for a marginal contact and Geldard stops the drought, MEN 54-46
Geldard misses and Jury has the rebound, Metuarau scores, MEN 54-47
Ninth minute - Nweke goals again and the margin is back to 10, MEN 53-43
Another defensive play from Burger and the Ferns score five in a row, make that six, MEN 53-45
Seventh minute - Ferns finally score in this last quarter and then steal the ball back. Metuarau scores, MEN 53-40
Nweke goals to bring the margin back, but the men are dominant tonight. That said, they turn the ball over again and the Ferns have another chance.
Fifth minute - Geldard scores and Metuarau is called for held-ball. Geldard converts, MEN 52-38
Third minute - Men replay the ball on attack and the Ferns come away, but can't score.
Hume misses from long range and the men have another chance to draw away. Taurua looks pensive.
First minute - Geldard scores off the centrepass, MEN 47-38
Ferns are pinged for breaking off the pass and Geldard extends the lead back to double figures, MEN 48-38
Third quarter
Perfect shooting from the men in that quarter, which they won 15-11.
15th minute - Kersten is called offside and the game is getting away from the Ferns. She moves back to wing defence, Gordon on at centre and Heffernan back to the bench.
Godsmark-White has another block on Nweke - and another. It's a block party!
But the Ferns have the last two goals of the quarter to stem the flow somewhat, MEN 46-38
13th minute - Another defensive play from Godsmark-White prevents the Ferns from cutting into the lead. Geldard goals, MEN 45-36
Hume into the game at goal attack for the Ferns.
11th minute - Long way back now for the Ferns, as Burger tips the ball out of bounds. Replayed ball by the men give the Ferns a chance to strike back.
Metuarau misses a long range attempt and things are getting physical under the Ferns goal.
Ninth minute - Mispass by the men allows Burger to intercept. Metuarau converts and then Nweke scores off the centrepass to narrow the margin, MEN 41-35
Saunders comes on at WA for the Ferns, Kersten moves to centre and Heffernan returns at wing defence.
Another defensive tip from Godsmark-White gives the men another turnover, MEN 43-35
Seventh minute - Godsmark-White swats another shot away, but Metuarau has the ball back to score, MEN 39-33
Metuarau overpasses to Nweke and the men can take control here...
Fifth minute - Nweke misses, but leaps for the offensive rebound and putback, MEN 37-31
Third minute - Defensive turnover by the men and Geldard scores, MEN 34-28
Metuarau finds Gordon on the edge of the circle and accepts a return pass to score, MEN 36-30
First minute - Nweke will take the GS bib from Wilson, with Metuarau at GA.
Geldard scores off the centrepass, MEN 32-27
Nweke converts her first shot, MEN 32-28
Second quarter
The men continue to terrorise the Ferns shooters and don't be surprised to see Nweke inserted as a bigger target for the third quarter.
The Ferns have attempted more shots, but converted less. Eriata Vercoe has two intercepts for the men.
15th minute - Finally Wilson breaks the drought and the Ferns have possession again, MEN 31-24
Grimmer leaves the court bleeding and Harema comes on at centre for the men.
Wilson goals for the Ferns and they have another chance to cut into the lead before the break, Wilson goals again, MEN 31-27
13th minute - Another costly miss from Wilson and the men capitalise again, MEN 30-23
Godsmark-White has another defensive tip and Taurua makes a change, bringin Kersten on at wing defence.
Metuarau misses badly and the Ferns have gone six minutes without scoring.
11th minute - Ferns miss a shot and the men have a chance to stretch their margin. Geldard goals, MEN 27-23
Another defensive deflection presents a big chance for the men and Geldard converts, MEN 29-23
Ninth minute - Nice touch pass from Crampton to Metuarau, MEN 23-21
Gordon finds Wilson underneath, MEN 24-22
Metuarau misses a high arcing shot, but Ferns get the in-bound and Metuarau goals, MEN 25-23
Seventh minute - Vercoe feeds Geldard, who lays the ball in, MEN 22-19
Fifth minute - The men capitalise on a turnover to restore a two-goal lead and then Geldard makes it three.
Smith overshoots from close range, but Geldard rebounds, MEN 21-18
Third minute - Ferns in a tangle at the attack end and the men come away with a penalty, but Metuarau deflects and scores, MEN 17-16
After Wilson pulls the Ferns level, Geldard scores to restore the lead, MEN 18-17
First minute - Gordon has centrepass and Wilson scores from the first possession, MEN 17-15
Geldard ventures out of the shooting circle and turns the ball over, a chance for the Ferns to close up the score...
First quarter
Ferns have had one more attempt on goal, but have struggled with the men's height and athleticism in the defensive circle. Geldard has just missed the one attempt.
15th minute - Wilson halts the slide and Burger almost steals the ball, MEN 16-12
Ferns need to close out the quarter and Wilson scores, MEN 17-14
The ball is flicked to Geldard with seconds ticking down, but he can't get his shot up before the buzzer to end the quarter.
13th minute - Ferns turn the ball over on attack, Jury wins it back, but the men steal it right back, MEN 12-11
Another loose pass in the Ferns attack circle gives the men a chance to stretch their lead, Geldard converts, MEN 14-11
11th minute - Metuarau brings the Ferns level with centrepass to come, 9-9
Metuarau finds Wilson underneath and she seems to have regathered her composure, FERNS 11-10
Ninth minute - Godsmark-White swats away another Wilson shot, but Ferns regather and score, MEN 8-7
The men steal possession in midcourt, but can't capitalise. At the other end, Wilson goals, MEN 9-8
Seventh minute - Ferns are missing Nweke's height under goal, but Wilson goals, MEN 7-4
Nice link between Metuarau and Wilson brings the Fenrs within one goal.
Fifth minute - Wilson scores with a settler, but misses her next shot. Geldard stretches the men's lead...
Third minute - Geldard is on target with his second attempt, 1-1
Wilson is called for held ball at the other end and Geldard goals acrobatically, MEN 2-1
Wilson looks hesitant and misses, Geldard puts the men two goals up, MEN 3-1
First minute - Gordon will have first centrepass for the Ferns and they haven't had a great record in this department during this series. The ball is quickly worked to Metuarau, who goals immediately - good start, FERNS 1-0
After his faultless shooting last night, Geldard misses his very first attempt tonight.
7:03pm - Starting line-ups are posted...
Ferns: GS Maia Wilson, GA Tiana Metuarau, WA Gina Crampton, C Maddy Gordon, WD Kate Heffernan, GD Karin Burger, GK Kelly Jury
Men: GS Jay Geldard, GA Ben Smith, WA Eriata Vercoe, C Nick Grimmer, WD Cameron Van Baarle, GD Michael Clarke, GK Victor Godsmark-White
First time we've seen Wilson and Metuarau in tandem during this series, while Kate Heffernan will get her first start for the Ferns, after taking the court for the final quarter of game one.
Several new faces among the men, but Jay Geldard will be the key, with his on-target shooting.
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the third encounter between the Silver Ferns and Aotearoa Men at Wellington's ASB Arena.
The NZ women have already clinched series honours with victories in the opening two fixtures - their first series win over their male counterparts, after their first one-off success last year.
This rivalry has become a crucial element of the Ferns schedule and more so this year, with the Birmingham Commonwealth Games looming and COVID-19 severely restricting international travel.
These games will likely be the last opportunity for coach Dame Noeline Taurua to fine-tune her squad before they contest the Commonwealth Games, where they missed a medal at Gold Coast 2018.
With several veterans missing for a variety of reasons, Dame Noeline has taken the opportunity to blood some newcomers, with young attackers Grace Nweke and Tiana Metuarau taking their chances with both hands.
The men have struggled for continuity, with several of their leading players stranded in Auckland and Waikato by COVID-19 lockdown.
They fell away badly in the first encounter, but were unlucky to lose the second with a costly error in the closing seconds on Monday night. They are finding their mojo and can be counted on for an even tougher challenge tonight.
An unchanged Ferns squad will take the court...
Shooters: Jamie Hume, Tiana Metuarau, Grace Nweke, Maia Wilson
Midcourters: Gina Crampton (c), Maddy Gordon, Kate Heffernan, Claire Kersten, Shannon Saunders
Defenders: Karin Burger, Kelly Jury, Georgia Tong
TAB Odds: Silver Ferns $1.57, Aotearoa Men $2.25
