The Silver Ferns have eased some lingering Commonwealth Games selection concerns, overwhelming NZ A 67-48 in the opening match of their Quad Series campaign at Auckland's Pullman Arena.
Featuring several players who can considered themselves unlucky to miss Games selection, the NZ A presented a tough challenge to those chosen for Birmingham, obviously seeing this contest as a chance to prove a point, and push for inclusion later in the year against Jamica and Australia.
Former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, and midcourt Sam Winders and defender Claire Kersten have been mainstays of the national team in recent years, while up-and-coming goal attack Tiana Metuarau surely represents the future of the programme.
In particular, Ekenasio simply lost her race against time to return from childbirth last November and fell foul of coach Dame Noeline Taurua's notoriously tough fitness standards.
With Dame Noeline under COVID-19 isolation, stand-in Ferns coach Deb Fuller started Maia Wilson and Bailey Mes on attack, skipper Gina Crampton and Whitney Souness in midcourt, rookie Kate Heffernan at wing defence, and Sulu Fitzpatrick and Kelly Jury in the defensive circle.
This line-up delivered a solid 18-13 start, although Ekenasio and Metuarau shot faultlessly (13/13) through the opening quarter.
Wilson and Mes made way for Grace Nweke and Te Paea Selby-Rickit in the second period, and as the penalty count swung against them and the NZ A shooters maintained their torrid pace, the underdogs levelled the scores at 23-23.
Returning from injury, Nweke showed nerves with four early misses, but began to find her confidence and range, guiding the Ferns to a 30-27 halftime advantage, despite an 18-7 penalty count against them for the quarter.
Ekenasio and Metuarau remained on target until the final seconds before the break, when the latter tried a quick, buzzerbeating shot that was deflected short.
After the restart, Nweke began to impose herself under goal, combining with Wilson at goal attack and providing a big target to her feeders, as the Ferns switched up a gear, quickly extending their margin to double figures.
Ekenasio lost her unblemished record and NZ A centre Peta Toeava was pressured into three turnovers, with the national team attempting 11 more shots on goal than their rivals in the third quarter.
Ahead 52-40 into the final stanza, the combination of Nweke-Wilson-Crampton-Souness-Kayla Johnson-Fitzpatrick-Jury had seemingly made victory secure.
Fuller benched all but Souness and Fitzpatrick for the final quarter, as she tested the squad's depth across the court, and the replacements stretched the margin to 19 at the finish.
Metuarau was subbed off to start the period, Ekenasio left momentarily with an injury concern, but both returned to finish the match for NZ A, shooting a combined 89 percent, but attempting a massive 32 shots less than their opponents.
The Ferns must tighten up their shooting (78 percent), but will be heartened by their first competitive hitout together.
"It was a really great start," said Fuller. "We had the combinations planned before the start and the second quarter probably took a wee bit to settle, but it was really good to see the formations of our gameplan start to get exciting.
"It's been three weeks of a lot of hard work and I take my hat off to the players. They've been given a lot of information from us, and had to digest it and execute it.
"They've come out today and shown what they've learnt, and shown they can do it against their teammate from clubs that know them very well."
The Silver Ferns will face NZ Men on Thursday, with NZ A pitted against the Mixed Invitational side.
Silver Ferns 67 (Nweke 26/34, Wilson 18/19, Mess 1/19, Selby-Rickit 11/14) NZ A 48 (Ekenasio 25/28, Metuarau 22/23, Hume 1/3)
