Ruth Aitken
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"Ruth Ellina Aitken", New Zealand Order of Merit/ONZM is a New Zealand former international-level netball player and former head coach of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns. A former goal-attack, Aitken represented New Zealand in the 1979 World Netball Championships in Trinidad and Tobago, playing two warm-up games and then in one match against Ireland national netball team/Ireland.

Aitken became coach of the Silver Ferns in 2001, replacing Yvonne Willering. During Aitken's tenure as national head coach, the Silver Ferns won the 2003 World Netball Championships and the Netball at the 2006 Commonwealth Games/2006 and Netball at the 2010 Commonwealth Games/2010 Commonwealth Games, but came second to Australia national netball team/Australia at both the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Netball Championships. In February 2008, Aitken was re-signed as national head coach for a further four years.

In 2011, Aitken was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List as an Officer in the New Zealand Order of Merit, alongside Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams.

In late 2011, she retired as coach of the national team - and was later replaced by assistant Waimarama Taumaunu.

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She certainly wasn't comfortable today.

It was really well contested and we were pleased we got our flow a lot more. And we were craftier in getting the ball past their tall, agile players.

It's just been good for making them think how they can keep learning and we can keep challenging them.

Jess is an exciting young shooter who shows great maturity in her game.

She went over on her knee but it's too early to say what the extent of the injury is.

We feel it is important over the length of the tournament that we use all 12 players and we have full confidence in those 12 because you never know what is going to happen further down the track.

I think certainly we felt Australia didn't have a good day at the office that day and we know they'll be much improved.

She came back in great form after a few matches in Newcastle. She was really on the top of her game match-wise.

We're aware of them through the World Youth Cup. We might not have seen them in the green and gold, but we are very aware of them.