Two new faces in Diamonds cup squad
Jo Weston and Gretel Tippett have been added to the Diamonds’ squad for the four Constellation Cup netball tests against New Zealand.
Captain Laura Geitz is unavailable due to pregnancy, meaning Clare Mcmeniman will continue as acting skipper, while Kristina Manua and Stephanie Wood have dropped out after being members of the successful Quad Series squad to make way for Weston and Tippett.
‘‘We were pleased with our team’s recent performance at the Netball Quad Series and wish to give them more court time together to continue to strengthen their connections,’’ coach Lisa Alexander said.
’’Jo and Gretel will provide different
options for us. Both had strong ANZ Championship seasons and have impressed selectors with their training during our Quad Series pre-departure camp. They will blend seamlessly into the team.’’
Australia has held the Constellation Cup for the past three seasons, but only after they retained the silverware in a 2-2 series draw last year.
They have also dropped the title just once, ahead of the seventh annual competition, which begins in Sydney on October 9.
‘‘There’s no better sporting rivalry than Australia and New Zealand,’’ Alexander said. ’’After facing the Silver Ferns in the Quad Series, we know we will be challenged in the Constellation Cup. Nothing less than our best will be acceptable in order to retain the cup.’’
Meanwhile, perhaps it’s shortterm pain for long-term gain but without Romelda Aiken and Jhaniele Fowler-reid the Jamaican Sunshine Girls could experience some more tough lessons on their three-game tour of New Zealand.
On a mission to deepen their talent pool - which is apparently the reason for leaving their two best players behind - the inexperienced Jamaicans struck a slick Silver Ferns side out to right the wrongs of last weekend’s Quad Series decider defeat to Australia in Melbourne.
Unsurprisingly, it was New Zealand, in just their fourth game under new coach Janine Southby, that dominated the first international netball test to be played at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson, comfortably winning 72-34 in a one-sided encounter on Sunday night.
With just two wins needed to keep hold of the Taini Jamison Trophy, which is up for grabs for the series winner, the Silver Ferns are already halfway there.
‘‘We enjoy putting 72 goals on. We haven’t scored that many goals for awhile and keeping them to just 34, obviously defensively we did a good job,’’ captain Katrina Grant said after the game.
‘‘We definitely can’t complain about the performance. I thought everyone had a good solid game .’’ Jamaica went into the game having beaten the Silver Ferns just twice in their previous 50 encounters.
So, with that record in mind, you could excuse Southby’s side for just wanting to use this series as solid tune up before getting another shot at Australia when the Constellation Cup rolls around in October.
New Zealand only lost to Australia by five goals in what was a very winnable game. The problem area on that night was the accuracy, or lack of it, by Bailey Mes who scored just 23 of her 34 attempts. But the Northern Mystics-bound goal shoot bounced back from the misfire in Melbourne.
Despite missing her first shot she quickly settled into her rhythm and ended the night with a game-high contribution of 41 from 48 attempts.
Southby also used the game to blood some new talent, including debutant Storm Purvis, who was introduced with just under six minutes to play, while Te Paea Selby-rickit (15/18) was handed her starting debut at goal attack ahead of Ameliaranne Ekenasio (16/20), who has been on bereavement leave following the death of her grandmother.
Selby-rickit didn’t look like a player stepping onto the international stage for just the second time, forming a solid partnership with Mes up top in the opening two quarters before Ekenasio was deployed in her place.
The shooters were helped by the terrific work Laura Langman and Grace Rasmussen were doing in the engine room, leaving the Jamaican midcourt in their wake with quick exchanges.
With Aiken and Fowler-reid absent, Jamaica opted for the short and tall option of 1.73m goal attack Shanice Beckford (15/19), one of the smallest women on the court, and Shantal Slater (10/12), who at 1.93m was the tallest.
They had mixed success, Slater providing enough of a threat due to her obvious height advantage but the Silver Ferns defence had them under control and she was benched in favour for Vanessa Walker (9/14) in the final two quarters.
Attention now turns to tomorrow’s second test in Palmerston North.