The Silver Ferns have overcome a slow start to claim a gritty - and ultimately comfortable - win over Aotearoa Men in the opening match of their three-game series in Wellington on Sunday.
After the men had shot to a seven-goal advantage at the end of the first quarter, the world champions settled into their rhythm offensively and ramped up their defensive pressure, closing with an intensity the underdone men - playing on just three week's notice - were unable to match.
The injection of Grace Nweke proved just the antidote for the Ferns' ailing attack, as the young hot-shot - in tandem with Maia Wilson - terrorised the men's defence with her height advantage, matching their physicality and causing havoc with her offensive rebounding.
Maia Wilson proved to be the ideal foil for Nweke inside, opening up space for the 19-year-old and sending another strong message to the selectors in just her third game at goal attack.
At the other end of the court, Karin Burger was omnipresent defensively, terrorising the passing lanes and limiting towering men's goalshoot Jay Geldard's looks at the net.
Kate Heffernan - playing her first game for New Zealand - also caused plenty of disruption to the men's attacking supply lines, with Shannon Saunders made an undeniable impact late to help put the contest well beyond reach of the men, who were missing six of their key players due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Nweke landed 39 of her 44 attempts on goal as the lone bright spot on a difficult night for the Ferns' shooters, who finished with a lowly 67 percent (58 of 86) overall.
Led by Geldard's 35 of 36 goals, the men shot at a much higher clip of 94 percent (47 of 50), but with a glaring 36-goal disparity in attempts.
The men started strongest, going early and often to Geldard, who feasted on long balls from mid court.
The Silver Ferns' attacking combinations struggled to find their rhythm, as the men's defence disrupted the circle and made life difficult for their shooters, with the women converting just 64 percent of their first-quarter attempts.
Facing a seven-goal deficit at the end of the opening quarter, clearly displeased Silver Ferns coach Dame Noline Taurua went to her bench, bringing Nweke into the shooters' circle to immediate effect.
Burger kickstarted the Ferns' defensive circle, as the men were stung by a series of turnovers for which Nweke made them pay, tying the score at 24-24 at halftime.
Nweke picked up where she left off to start the third quarter, combining with Wilson to form a more effective tandem in the Ferns' circle and benefiting from some clinical service from centre Maddy Gordon.
Geldard's opportunities began to dry up, as the height of Heffernan limited his ball, as the Ferns took a one-goal advantage into the final stanza.
In the final quarter, midcourter Saunders took the court to further swung the momentum in the Ferns' favour against the tiring men, who were plagued by turnovers late.
On Monday, the two sides will meet again at the same venure, where the Silver Ferns could wrap up the series with a win.
Join Newshub from 7pm, Monday for live updates of the second game between the Silver Ferns and Aotearoa Men.
