Ferns crushed in decider
The Silver Ferns have failed to win the Constellation Cup as their dismal season finished just as it started – on a losing note.
New Zealand’s crushing 58-47 defeat against Australia in a feisty international in Wellington last night saw the Diamonds deservedly take the series 3-1.
It also closed the curtain on one of the most disappointing Silver Ferns seasons of all time.
A superb win in Hamilton on Sunday provided a glimmer of hope heading into the series decider but the Silver Ferns didn’t come close to obtaining the 14-goal winning margin they required to snatch the overall victory as they fell to their 13th defeat of the year.
Just keeping the pace with the slick Diamonds was hard enough. The Silver Ferns were on the back foot early as they fell into an 18-13 hole at the end of the first quarter. But once Australia’s lead reached double figures in the second, winning the Constellation Cup for the first time since 2012 appeared mission impossible.
The Silver Ferns had actually made a promising start to the game, with Te Paea Selby-Rickit scoring the opening two goals.
But that advantage didn’t last long as the Diamonds swiftly took control in a very intense game where players frequently hit the deck – the biggest collision came when Sulu Fitzpatrick floored Kelsey Browne in the third quarter.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua was quick to use her bench with Fitzpatrick, one of the top performers for Central Pulse, injected into the game at goal keep – much to the delight of the local supporters.
Her introduction briefly sharpened the defensive end as she relished the duel with Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett.
Ultimately though, they were unable to shut down the superior Diamonds attack as their lead hovered around 10. Bassett led the scoring for both teams with 37 from 43 attempts while Gretel Tippett chipped in with 21 from 25.
The Silver Ferns were unable to match the accuracy of their opposition, with Maria Folau scoring 27 from 34 and SelbyRickit 13 from 19.
Maia Wilson (4/8) and Aliyah Dunn (3/4) made small scoring contributions in the latter stages.
The Silver Ferns were already destined to end 2018 with a losing record regardless of last night’s result. But eight wins from 21 games doesn’t make for pretty reading, especially when those losses cost them the Constellation Cup, Commonwealth Games medals, the Taini Jamison Trophy and the Quad Series.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. In Taurua, the Silver Ferns have a coach capable of guiding them out of the darkness. Their performance in game three of the Constellation Cup shines bright and serves as a reminder that on their day they are still capable of beating the very best.
Taurua spoke in the lead-up to the game about the importance of considering the big picture. And it’s clear to see there have been considerable improvements since the Commonwealth Games.
Australia 58 (Caitlin Bassett 37/43 , Gretel Tippett 21/25) New Zealand 47 (Maria Folau 27/34, Te Paea Selby-Rickit 13/19, Maia Wilson 4/8, Aliyah Dunn 3/4) Q1: 18-13, HT: 32-24, Q3: 46-33.