Diamonds overcome injury blow, shock power outage to belt Kiwi ...

The Australian Diamonds have stamped their early Constellation Cup dominance with a massive 10-goal win over New Zealand in game one on Thursday night.

The Diamonds had to overcome an early injury blow to midcourter Paige Hadley and an “unexpected” delay in the third term when the lights went out at John Cain Arena before recording a 50-40 victory.

MVP Courtney Bruce finished with three intercepts and eight deflections as the Diamonds’ defence dominated rookie Kiwi shooter Amelia Walmsley.

Watch every game of the 2023 Constellation Cup Series, starting on Thursday, Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

In just her third Test for the Silver Ferns, Walmsley was benched in the final term as the margin blew out.

Silver Ferns skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio was clearly disappointed in her side’s loss, as they now take a 10-goal deficit into Sunday’s game two.

“Definitely not the result we wanted,” she said.

“Obviously we want to be heaps better – I think we’ve got the capacity to be better.

“(New Zealand teammates) got a first taste and they’ll know what’s to come on Sunday.”

Game two will be held in Brisbane on Sunday, before the series moves to New Zealand for the final two matches.

QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH BLOG

STARTING SEVEN

Australia: GS Koenen, GA Austin, WA Watson (c), C Hadley, WD Price, GD Weston, GK Bruce

New Zealand: GS Walmsley, GA Ekenasio (c), WA Buchanan, C Gordon, WD Heffernan, GD Karaka, GK Jury

The Diamonds enjoyed a “special” walk out on Thursday night as players from the winning 1963 and 1983 World Cup teams formed a guard of honour at John Cain Arena.

“How special is that to walk out in front of ladies whose shoulders you are literally standing on?” commentator Caitlin Bassett said.

“They created the game and what it is today.

“What a great connection to have with former players.”

The touching tribute pre-game at John Cain Arena.Source: FOX SPORTS

It was Australia with the intercept in the opening seconds as Maddy Gordon tried to force a ball into goal shooter Amelia Walmsley that Jo Weston picked off in front.

Diamond skipper Liz Watson showed no fear going over the top of 192cm keeper Kelly Jury to feed Cara Koenen in positive signs for the Aussies.

Ameliaranne Ekenasio was able to get her own rebound as teen Walmsley didn’t put up a shot in the opening six minutes.

Walmsley missed her first two attempts – just as she did in her debut Test against England.

“Maybe some nervous shots – understandable though. It’s just her third Test,” commentator Catherine Cox said.

“Hopefully settle some of those nerves.”

Just as the Aussies got out to a three-goal lead, it was Jury who won back ball for her side.

Courtney Bruce was denied a brilliant intercept on the goal line when it was deemed she used the post to stay in court.

And when Kiera Austin had her first miss for the match, suddenly the visitors had the momentum.

The match soured when Paige Hadley went down clutching at her knee in worrying signs.

Hadley had stopped on the circle edge and was “crushed” under the weight of opponent Maddy Gordon.

“A massive challenge!” Cox said.

“And not what you want to see from the newly appointed vice-captain of the Diamonds. Paige Hadley down and straight to her knee.

“Looks in a world of hurt at the moment.

“Hadley stopped to go up for the ball – just nowhere to go. Crushed under the challenge from Gordon.”

Hadley was able to walk from the court as Kate Moloney was brought on at centre.

At the first break, it was Australia leading 12-10.

Paige Hadley was clearly distressed. Picture: Daniel PockettSource: Getty Images

Kiera Austin started to carve up in the second term as the Diamonds opened up a six-goal advantage.

Austin was able to use her pace to leave Karaka in her wake in worrying signs for the Ferns’ defence.

“The game plan at halftime has to be how are we going to stop Kiera Austin?” Cox said.

“At the moment, just eating up the space.

“She’s become the go-to shooter.”

With just over three minutes to play in the half, the change was made with Karaka heading to the bench and Karin Burger coming on at goal defence.

From the sidelines, commentator Bianca Chatfield confirmed Hadley had been given the all-clear in great news for the Diamonds.

“It was just a scare. She got a shock from the heaviness of the fall,” she said.

“She’s all good.”

When Jo Weston pulled in a big intercept and Walmsley put down a tough ball, suddenly the Diamonds were out to a 10-goal lead.

At the main break it was Australia leading 29-20 – Cara Koenen nailing 15 goals at 100%.

It was a more patient Ferns outfit that returned to the court for the third term and it paid off with six goals in the opening six minutes.

The physicality ramped up as Ekenasio was heard complaining about the work of Weston, while Price was warned to adjust.

Play stopped in “unexpected scenes” midway through the third term when the lights went out at John Cain Arena.

The lights initially flicked off and then on as players prepared to play on before the court was plunged into darkness.

“Woah! Well the last thing you want to try and catch these bullet passes with the lights out,” Cox said.

“We pause the game for the moment.”

After a brief delay where both players headed to the bench in their huddles, the lights returned and play resumed.

Bruce pushed out to GD as Sarah Klau came on at GK to try and stifle the Ferns’ charge.

By three quarter time, the Diamonds still held a 40-34 lead.

The Diamonds made one more change for the final term, with Price heading to the bench and Sunday Aryang coming on at WD.

Australia threw ball away early in the fourth as the pressure ramped up on both sides but the margin remained out at nine goals.

Maia Wilson came on for Walmsley with eight minutes to play to keep Klau on her toes.

“She was just getting muscled out of the contest,” Bassett said of Walmsley.

A big Jury rebound gave the Ferns a big chance to close the gap but the Diamonds remained steady in their attack end.

Sophie Garbin was injected at goal shooter for Koenen, who headed to the bench with 27 goals from 31 attempts.

And by then, the game was already out of New Zealand’s reach.

By full time it was Australia who claimed a 50-40 victory.

Courtney Bruce was named MVP for game one, admitting she pushed through the pain in the final term to get the job done.

“My calves were cramping that whole last quarter – didn’t feel great but it’s just great to be back out there with the group,” she said.

Austin finished with 22/27 goals while Garbin had 1/1 in her limited minutes.

For New Zealand, Walmsley landed 21/25 goals while Ekenasio had 17/20 and Wilson 2/2.

KELPIES TAKE FIRST-UP VICTORY

The Australian Kelpies got their series against the New Zealand Net Blacks off to a winning start thanks to a first quarter blitz.

The Kelpies piled on 16 goals to just 8 to leave the visitors shell shocked at John Cain Arena – and they never recovered.

The Aussies continued to push on in every quarter before running out 76-41 winners.

Match MVP Jerome Gillbard was the pick of the Kelpies with 35 from 41 before coming off in the final term.

Junior Levi played a lone hand for New Zealand with 35/36, despite some close checking from Kelpies debutant Victor Nikolic.

“There were glimpses we were in it … can we keep that consistency and stretch it out for longer?” Levi told Fox Netball after the game one loss.

Follow Australia v New Zealand in our live blog below!

If you can’t see the blog, tap here.