Glint in eyes of Diamonds
THE Diamonds have lost the Constellation Cup for the first time in almost a decade but there is a silver lining to the 3-1 series loss to New Zealand, with Australia unearthing several rising stars over the past week.
Australia needed to win Sunday’s final Test by at least two goals to retain the Cup and while it held a lead at each of the first three quarters, could not withstand the surge of the World Cup holders, going down 45-43.
But having debuted four players and installed their likely long-term captain in coach Stacey Marinkovich’s first series, the Diamonds have made big strides in the long game of peaking at the next Commonwealth Games and World Cup.
“Obviously we’re disappointed with the loss but I think the things we’re able to take away from this experience are so much bigger and will hold us in really good stead going forward,” Marinkovich said.
Shooters Cara Koenen and Kiera Austin again turned in strong performances in their fourth Tests for Australia, while Verity Charles again made an impact when injected.
Midcourter Liz Watson, who led the team for the third time, had not tasted a Constellation Cup loss in her international career.
“You play for your country and you never want to lose and it does hurt to lose,” Watson said. “But we’ve got to see the bigger picture and perspective and where we’re going. It’s a new group, (there were) debutants and we are looking forward.
“They’re a polished side and they did very well, but so did we and we’ve got to see it like that, not as a big loss but more of a learning.”
The teams played in front of a full house at Christchurch Arena, the first time a crowd had been present in the series.
The quarantine period that has become the norm for international sports events in the COVID era made for a “unique” preparation that Marinkovich said was far from perfect.
But she would not blame it for the second-half fades that marked the Diamonds’ final three games.
“We’ve got some players back home, we’ve got a squad here that’s worked extremely hard and then to have debutants ... there’s lots to like and it’s pretty remarkable how the girls have taken things on,” Marinkovich said.