Kate Heffernan shines as Silver Ferns edge England in first test in London
Sunday, 16 November 2025
At Copper Box Arena, London: Silver Ferns 61 (Grace Nweke: 52/55, Georgia Heffernan: 5/5, Amelia Walmsley: 4/4) England 58 (Liv Tchine: 31/33, Helen Housby: 20/22, Eleanor Cardwell: 7/10) 1Q: 15-14, HT: 33-30, 3Q: 47-47.
Kate Heffernan wowed at wing defence as the Silver Ferns took first blood against England with an impressive victory.
New Zealand held off the Roses 61-58 at London’s Copper Box Arena on Sunday (NZ time), courtesy of a powerful final quarter.
The Ferns outscored England 14-11 in a tense final term after the sides were deadlocked at 47-all entering the last 15 minutes.
Kelly Jackson was immense in the final quarter, getting several key defensive gains to turn the match the Ferns’ way.
Wing defence Heffernan produced one of her finest outings in the black dress, picking up deflections and intercepts, getting her hand to ball. She was rightly named player of the match, shutting down the England midcourters.
With the All Blacks’ hopes of a Grand Slam scuppered by a 33-19 loss to England across town at Twickenham earlier in the day, the Ferns got one back for the Kiwis.
The sides face a quick turnaround, meeting again at the Copper Box Arena on Monday (4am start NZ time). The final test in the three-match series is in Manchester on Thursday (NZT), the Ferns’ last international for 2025.
Trailing by three at halftime (33-30), England played their best netball in the third quarter to regain the lead, putting the Ferns under pressure at both ends of the court.
Approaching the final term, the sides could not be separated with the score locked at 47 apiece.
A 5-1 start to the last quarter pushed the Ferns ahead 52-48, but the Roses were always within touching distance.
Much of the intrigue heading into the match was whether interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie would start Maddy Gordon at wing attack.
Instead, McCausland-Durie stuck with the same starting line-up from the final two Constellation Cup victories over Australia.
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan was retained at wing attack with Gordon remaining at centre and Heffernan at wing defence.
It did not take Gordon long to push into wing attack, starting the second quarter there with Kimiora Poi injected into centre and Reuelu-Buchanan taking a breather.
McCausland-Durie was not afraid to make bold calls, bringing off vice-captain Jackson late in the first half with rising talent Catherine Hall getting her chance at goal keep.
Jackson returned alongside Burger in the defensive circle to open the second half. She was tremendous in the final quarter.
Matches between the Roses and Silver Ferns have been cliffhangers in recent years.
Little has separated the No 2 and 3 teams in world netball with England winning five of the nine prior contests since the start of 2023.
The Silver Ferns would not have been lacking any motivation heading into the series with England snatching the Taini Jamison Trophy off them last year on New Zealand soil, winning 2-1.
England had not played since February’s Nations Cup, while this was the Ferns’ 10th match since September, giving them the benefit of plenty of match-play.
Playing in front of a sold-out crowd at the Copper Box, England started well, but the Ferns eventually got into the game.
When the Ferns’ connections were in sync and they let the ball go, they were menacing on attack.
Gordon delivered several bullets into Nweke in the first half, which gave England circle defenders Funmi Fadoju and debutant Jaz Brown little time to react.
By halftime, the Ferns took a three goal advantage into the main break, leading 33-30.
New Zealand’s retention of possession was a hallmark of their play in the first half, making just three unforced errors.
It was anyone’s game throughout the second half with the Ferns only able to pull away late in the contest for a morale-boosting win.