DIAMONDS REGAIN SPARKLE
AUSTRALIA has made the perfect start to its Quad Series netball campaign, beating New Zealand 53-39 to erase the pain of its last international tournament almost a year ago.
The return of goalers Gretel Bueta (maternity leave) and Steph Wood (injury) had an immediate impact, with the experienced pair stamping their authority on the match, while livewire midcourter Ash Brazill was outstanding in her return from an ACL injury.
The match at London’s Copperbox Arena early Sunday morning (AEDT) was the Diamonds’ first on the international stage for 10 months and the win over the world No.2 will give them enormous confidence for the remainder of the tournament as they head into clashes against South Africa and England in coming days.
The Diamonds’ last tournament resulted in a 3-1 series loss to the Silver Ferns and many doubted how well they would start this series given they had played just four Tests in the past two years.
Those fears were brushed aside within minutes of the opening centre pass, with the Diamonds sprinting to a 6-1 lead, opening a sevengoal margin at quarter-time and increasing that over the next two quarters to establish an 18-goal buffer at the final break.
Brazill was part of a dynamic midcourt that included Paige Hadley at centre and captain Liz Watson at wing attack in her first game back from a foot injury that kept her out of last year’s Super Netball season.
Their combination was outstanding, with Brazill winning player-of-the-match honours and Hadley a revelation after failing to hit the court in last year’s Constellation Cup.
Wood (19 shots from 22 attempts) and Bueta (32/33) were both missing last year and the impact they made – as playmakers and goalers – was significant.