New Zealand have rallied from a shock opening defeat to overcome England 59-52 in the deciding third test of the Taini Jamison Cup series at Hamilton.
Stung by their loss to a second-string Roses outfit at Christchurch earlier in the week, the Silver Ferns completed their comeback, while continuing to develop some of their own fringe players at international level.
NZ coach Dame Noeline Taurua retained confidence in the players that had levelled the series three nights earlier, but England counterpart Liana Leota tweaked her starting line-up in response.
The visitors created the first significant margin, when Ferns shooter Amelia Walmsley missed from mid range and the Roses converted at the other end, opening a three-goal buffer with their next possession.
New Zealand forced two turnovers and had opportunities to close the gap in the dying seconds of the opening quarter, but squandered both chances to trail 14-12 at the first break.
They narrowed the deficit off the opening centrepass of the second quarter and drew level, when Kelly Jury rebounded a missed England shot, before captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio put her team ahead for the first time.
The Ferns had struggled to compete during the second periods in the preceding encounters, outscored by a combined 13 goals at Christchurch and Porirua, but this time, they piled on five unanswered goals to grab the initiative.
They enjoyed a stroke of luck, when Ekenasio missed, but the ball was batted through goal in the contest for the rebound.
With star shooter Grace Nweke still sidelined by a knee injury, rookie Walmsley continued to present a big target under goal, but Leota brought on defender Alice Harvey in an attempt to combat her height.
New Zealand's lead reached five goals midway through the quarter, winning that stanza 15-10, but by halftime, England had clawed within three at 27-24.
The Roses pulled level early in the third quarter, when the Ferns could not take advantage of Jury's defensive turnover and Ekenasio missed on goal.
Wing defence Kate Heffernan made a big defensive play, with a deflection that allowed her team to re-establish a three-goal edge and a 41-39 lead into the final period. Walmsley shot faultlessly (9/9) in that third stanza, as her percentage rose to 88 percent for the game.
Dame Noeline resisted the temptation to make any changes to her line-up and Ekenasio swooped on a loose pass from England centre Elle McDonald, as New Zealand stretched the margin to five goals early in the final passage.
Defender Phoenix Karaka broke up the Roses attack with her third intercept to fuel a five-goal burst that carried them further clear, but when Walmsley was called for contact under goal, the visitors had a chance to stage a comeback.
They came no closer than four goals, before centre Maddy Gordon deflected an England feed and Walmsley capitalised at the other end.
By the final buzzer, the teen shooter had recovered from a nervy start to convert 40/44 attempts, including her last 23, to record 91 percent accuracy. In midcourt, Gordon and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan solidified their young combination, with the Constellation Cup series against world champions Australia looming.
"I feel like I've been talking about this since we finished World Cup, but I'm really excited by the depth we've got," said Ekenasio. "Our young girls are absolutely incredible.
"There were debuts out there, everyone was up for it and we've got exciting talent coming through.
"We'll get a little bit of rest, but not too much. We'll go back to training and get ready, because we know what we're up against, when we go play Aussie."
New Zealand 59 (Walmsley 40/44, Ekenasio 19/23) England 52 (Glasgow 26/29, Neil 26/32)
NZ win the series 2-1
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