Damaging loss to NZ fires up Diamonds

MOTIVATED by a stinging loss to archrivals New Zealand, Australia are intent on starting better when trans-Tasman netball hostilities resume in the Constellation Cup on Thursday.

The Diamonds lost 57-47 to the Silver Ferns in Invercargill early last month in a result that allowed New Zealand to claim the Quad Series that also involved England and South Africa.

They headed to New Zealand yesterday for the first two games of the annual fourmatch series intent on regaining ascendancy over their greatest foe.

“That loss really did hurt,” Diamonds vice-captain Gabi Simpson said.

“It didn’t really indicate who we are as a team and the potential that we do have.

“That is extremely motivating now, that we have four opportunities to really show and present to the world who we are and how we can play netball. I think that’s quite an exciting prospect.”

The Diamonds took time in Invercargill to readjust to the Kiwis’ zonal style after only playing domestic opposition this year following the scrapping of the trans-Tasman tournament.

“I think we’ll be all the better for having the experience now against that zone,” Simpson said.

While each team won two quarters in Invercargill, New Zealand got a decisive 18-10 jump on Australia at the first break.

“It just shows you in netball how much one quarter can make such a big difference in terms of the game result,” Diamonds defender April Brandley said.

“For us it’s never nice losing, but from those losses you learn a lot more and it spurs us on even more and makes us look at ourselves and want to get better and take every opportunity that we can.

“That first quarter when we played them in the Quad series definitely got us.

“I think for us going forward probably what we’ve learnt from that is to come out absolutely firing.”

The series starts in Auckland, with the other matches scheduled for Christchurch, Adelaide and Sydney.