Defending champions New Zealand opened their 2010 Commonwealth Games campaign with an emphatic 102-21 netball win over Papua New Guinea in Delhi today.
The Silver Ferns, looking slick and confident, were untroubled against one of the minnows of world netball, and led 33-6, 57-12 and 86-16 at the three breaks.
Coach Ruth Aitken used the gentle opener to get 11 of her players on court. The only one not to play was centre Temepara George, who will have plenty of work when the more challenging matches arrive later in the tournament.
Lopsided games are a feature of Commonwealth Games netball tournaments New Zealands the record with a 90-goal defeat of Sri Lanka in 2002.
New Zealands major gold medal rivals, Australia, also eased through their first match, though their 76-39 win over Samoa was a lot more testing than anything the Silver Ferns faced.
Tweet Share