Grace Nweke explodes for 60 goals as Silver Ferns claim Taini Jamison Trophy

Wednesday, 24 September 2025

Silver Ferns centre Maddy Gordon controls possession against South Africa in Napier.

At Pettigrew Green Arena, Napier: Silver Ferns 70 (Grace Nweke: 60/68, Martina Salmon: 9/11, Georgia Heffernan: 0/2, Filda Vui: 1/1) South Africa 58 (Elmere van der Berg: 44/47, Kamogelo Maseko: 14/19) 1Q: 14-15, HT: 34-28, 3Q: 53-42.

The Silver Ferns can briefly forget about the off-court chaos and toast a series win.

New Zealand captured the Taini Jamison Trophy with a match to play, pulling away from South Africa in the second half to win 70-58 in Napier on Wednesday.

The Ferns could not have scripted a worse build-up to their first home series of the year with the Dame Noeline Taurua coaching saga blowing up publicly 10 days before the opening match.

It has been a highly emotional time for the playing group and stepping back out and playing netball has allowed them to briefly forget the off-court debacle.

With Taurua sensationally stood down for the series, Yvette McCausland-Durie answered an SOS, leaving her day job as co-principal at Tipene St Stephen’s School in south Auckland to step in as interim head coach.

Grace Nweke had another dominant outing for the Silver Ferns in Napier, scoring 60 goals.

South Africa were thumped by 26 goals in Sunday’s opener in Auckland, but were vastly improved in Napier, pushing the Ferns for much of the contest.

The Proteas were a far sterner test, causing problems for the Ferns with their slick play on attack and some tenacious work on defence. Goal shoot Elmere van der Berg was their best on court, impressing with 44 goals from 47 attempts.

Victory gives the Ferns an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into Sunday’s final match in Invercargill.

Having torched South Africa for 58 goals in the first test, Ferns’ shooting star Grace Nweke was again menacing, scoring 60 to go with nine rebounds in another dazzling performance.

This was the seventh time, Nweke has reached the 50-goal mark for the Ferns in a match in her 40th test.

Silver Ferns goal defence Karin Burger gestures in Wednesday’s win over South Africa.

Captain for the game, Kelly Jackson, was excellent, proving a constant nuisance with her ability to disrupt the South African shooters.

After falling into a 20-8 first quarter hole in the first test in Auckland, South Africa resembled a different beast to start test two.

The Proteas made a fast start, putting pressure on the Silver Ferns with their ability to stop the easy ball into Nweke.

On attack, they were quick to let the ball go, making it tough for the Ferns’ defenders to pick up turnover ball and generate mistakes.

There were some nervous looks in the Napier crowd as South Africa shot out to an early 10-4 lead.

Georgia Heffernan takes in the ball for the Silver Ferns against South Africa in Napier.

South Africa had only beaten the Ferns once in history at the 1995 Netball World Championships, where Irene van Dyk, then in Proteas colours, played a starring role.

Needing a spark, Jackson gave the Ferns the lift they needed.

Martina Salmon pulls in a pass in the win over South Africa in Napier.

She set the tone defensively, using her long reach to unsettle the South African feeders and get hand to ball.

Jackson was everywhere in the first half, picking up seven gains, two intercepts, and four deflections in the opening 30 minutes.

After a quiet first quarter, the Ferns caught fire in the second term, outscoring South Africa to take a 34-28 advantage into halftime.

The Ferns were without key midcourter Kate Heffernan for test two, sitting out the match with illness.

With Heffernan unavailable, Parris Mason pushed higher up court, getting a starting opportunity at wing defence.

Martina Salmon, who was so impressive on debut in the first test, replaced Georgia Heffernan at goal attack to start the second quarter. Salmon gave the Ferns an immediate boost, forcing the South African defence to take note with her long range prowess. Salmon finished with nine goals from 11 attempts and has been the team’s best goal attack in this series.

Leading by six at halftime, the Ferns won the third quarter 19-14 to take an 11-goal buffer into the final 15 minutes.

New Zealand played their most consistent netball to close out the game as the scoreline started to push out.

Mystics goal attack Filda Vui got on court for her debut with seven minutes left, becoming Silver Fern No 192, capping off a pleasing second half from the Ferns.