Australia retain Constellation Cup with victory over New Zealand
Order has been restored. After an embarrassing 10-goal loss to archrivals New Zealand in the Quad Series last month that sparked a rare period of turmoil in Australian netball, the Diamonds on Wednesday retained the Constellation Cup with a 55-43 win over the Silver Ferns in the third Test in Adelaide. The netball world is back on its axis.
Having already won the first two legs of the four-match series in New Zealand, the Diamonds’ hardfought 12-goal win at Adelaide Arena in front of 5,000 fans secured the trans-Tasman trophy for the fifth straight year for the Australians. It also made the Diamonds favourites for Commonwealth gold early next year.
A strong performance from towering captain Caitlin Bassett for three quarters, coupled with the Diamonds’ uncompromising defence, set up the win.
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander stuck with the same attacking combination as the first two Tests, pairing 193cm West Australian Bassett at shooter with comeback queen Susan Pettitt – who had a standout year for the Giants in Super Netball to be recalled to national duties after a while in the wilderness.
Twenty-three-old Liz Watson, in just her 11th game for her country, again got the nod at wing attack. The Vixens’ powerful performance and growing connection with Bassett will make Madi Robinson, dropped after the Quad Series for poor form, nervous ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Robinson’s Collingwood teammate, Kim Ravaillion continued her strong form, playing centre until three-quarter time and Gabi Simpson – who was vocal about the squad’s performance in the Invercargill loss – was strong and vocal at wing defence.
Pie April Brandley and her former West Coast Fever team-mate, Courtney Bruce – with just 21 Tests between – partnered in defence and were able to shut down shooters Maria Tutaia and Bailey Mes, forcing changes in the Kiwi circle.
While the Kiwis started with purpose, it was a scrappy first quarter, with turnovers galore, ill-timed passes and dropped balls, including two by Brandley, coming out of defence.
Bassett carried the shooting load, putting in 10 from 12 attempts, getting great service from Watson. Kiwi goal shooter Mes was 5/5 and Tutaia missed three to finish with 5/8. The low-scoring quarter finished 12-10 the Diamonds’ way.
With Pettitt well and truly shut down by Ferns’ captain Katrina Grant in the first, she was replaced at goal attack in the second by Steph Wood.
Three quick goals from Bassett signalled the dominance that was to come in the second quarter from the Diamonds. As the Ferns’ intensity dropped, the Australian goals kept coming, with Bassett hitting 13/13. Wood chipped in 5/9 and did a power of work outside the circle too.
Ferns’ coach Janine Southby knew she had to swing the changes and did, switching Mes for Te Paea Selby-Rickit at shooter, Temalisi Fakahokotau for Kelly Jury at the other end and re-shuffling her midcourt, bringing Kayla Cullen to wing defence, who had an immediate impact with a few turnovers.
Bassett had it all her own way in the second, to bring her tally to 23/25 for the half. Australia’s lead got out to as many 14 goals with just over two minutes to go, but the half finished 30/19.
Southby’s changes had the desired effect in the third, with things clicking into gear, surprisingly, with their star shooter Tutaia off the court.
Mes and Selby-Rickit started creating space for each other. Mes shot 8/9, Selby-Rickit 7/8. Bassett was quiet, but accurate with 6/6. Jo Weston replaced Brandley at goal defence with a few minutes to go and had a deflection to her name in seconds. With little runs of goals, the Ferns pulled the margin back to just four at three-quarter time, 38-34. They had the momentum heading into the break.
Two Victorians took the court for the Diamonds in the last, with Kate Moloney making her international debut at centre and Pie spearhead Caitlin Thwaites replacing Bassett at shooter. They both made their presence felt, Moloney through her tenacity for the ball and Thwaites via accurate shooting from the get-go. With a run of six straight Thwaites goals, the Diamonds wrested back control and the Ferns looked done.
The Ferns again shuffled the deck, bringing Tutaia back on, to shooter this time, putting Cullen into centre, Jury back to keeper and Grant to wing defence. But it was all for nothing, as the Diamonds pulled away, winning 55-43.
Thwaites finished with 10/13 and Wood had a clean sheet in the last, 7/7 to finish with 14/18 for the match.
The last match of the series, now a dead rubber, will be played in Sydney on Saturday night.