Defensive clinic powers Australia to Constellation Cup game one ...
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Australian goal shoot Cara Koenen and New Zealand’s Karin Burger tangle for possession in Melbourne.
At John Cain Arena, Melbourne: Australia 50 (Cara Koenen: 27/31, Kiera Austin: 22/27, Sophie Garbin: 1/1) Silver Ferns 40 (Amelia Walmsley: 21/25, Ameliaranne Ekenasio: 17/20, Maia Wilson: 2/2) 1Q: 12-10, HT: 29-20, 3Q: 40-34.
A defensive masterclass has helped Australia take first blood in the Constellation Cup series.
The Netball World Cup champions produced a dominant showing to overpower the Silver Ferns 50-40 in Thursday’s opener in Melbourne.
There were passages of encouraging play from the Ferns, but Australia were in control for the bulk of the contest.
Victory gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the series and means they can go close to locking away the Cup for another year with a win in Sunday’s second test in Brisbane. That’s before the series returns for the final two tests in New Zealand.
“We felt it straight away,” Silver Ferns wing defence Kate Heffernan told Sky Sport of the Diamonds’ defensive pressure.
“It was super competitive, but we just probably weren’t able to get enough ball on D (defence) and on attack we were just under so much pressure. We’ll have to have a good look at that and come back hard in Brisbane.”
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Australia’s Jo Weston defends against Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio in the first test.
Chasing their first away win over Australia since October 2019, the Ferns were going to have to produce close to a perfect game to topple the classy Diamonds.
They had patches of heartening play, including the third quarter, where they outscored the hosts 14-11, but Australia were always in charge.
The Diamonds managed to silence the outside noise leading into the test with an ugly pay dispute playing out in Super Netball – Australia’s top domestic league.
No-one in the competition, including Australia's world champion Diamonds, are technically employed as of September 30 with Super Netball contracts expiring.
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Silver Ferns wing attack Mila Reuelu-Buchanan attempts to get the ball in against Australia.
On Monday, the latest talks over a Collective Players Agreement broke down yet again.
Despite the off-court turmoil, you never would have known. Australia’s netballers are the sport’s benchmark for a reason and produced a mostly polished performance, demonstrating why they are world champions.
They broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Ferns 17-10 to open up a convincing 29-20 halftime lead.
The Silver Ferns could have easily rolled over in the second half, but to their credit, fought their way back in the third quarter.
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Australian captain Liz Watson gets a pass away against the Silver Ferns in the first test.
Dame Noeline Taurua’s side managed to trim the Diamonds’ lead to six goals in the third quarter, but every time they threatened, Australia responded.
Australia’s victory was built around their relentless defence, which caused problems for the Ferns on attack all game.
New Zealand were restricted to 40 goals for the game, having to rattle off a plethora of passes to find an opening into the shooting end.
Slowing down the Diamonds when they came through the middle of the Ferns’ defensive structure needed improvement, Heffernan said.
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Australia’s Paige Hadley reacts after injuring her left knee in the first quarter in Melbourne.
“It either needs to be shut down or contested and today it was neither. We have to look hard at that because it just creates too much ball speed and it’s really hard to stop. Taking responsibility for that, we know it wasn’t good enough and we didn’t adjust fast enough.”
Courtney Bruce, who was so outstanding at the World Cup, set the tone for Australia, picking up three intercepts.
Captain Liz Watson was the orchestrator on attack and had another strong outing, sending some pinpoint ball into her shooters.
With Grace Nweke, who is close to returning from a knee injury suffered at the World Cup, not yet ready to take the court, 19-year-old Amelia Walmsley got the start at goal shoot for the Ferns. Nweke could potentially return for Sunday’s second test or the third match in Invercargill next Thursday.
It was a mixed bag from Walmsley, who only made her Ferns debut in the second Taini Jamison Trophy test against England last month. Walmsley was under a barrage of pressure from Bruce and the Australian circle defenders and will only be better for the experience.
She had some moments where she looked comfortable against the formidable Diamonds’ defence, but at other times, found the going tough. Walmsley converted 21 goals from 25 attempts.
Goal keep Kelly Jury was arguably the best Ferns’ player on court, holding her own against the accurate Cara Koenen and picking up several defensive turnovers.
Frustratingly, several of Jury’s gains were squandered back to Australia on the Ferns' next possession, which would have annoyed Taurua.
After a patchy 2-1 series win against a second string England side, there were some pleasing signs from the Ferns in Melbourne.
Ensuring they are able to do those across four quarters and for close to 60 minutes will be pivotal if they are to push the Diamonds.
That challenge continues in Brisbane on Sunday night with the Ferns trying to scrap their way back into the series.
