‘Have to be better’: Diamonds continue to crack under pressure
The Australian Diamonds have fallen to the New Zealand Silver Ferns in consecutive Constellation Cup matches, suffering a 62-50 defeat in Christchurch.
Netball legend Kim Green stated the Diamonds “have to be better” at maintaining their composure, as the side continues to crack under the pressure.
New Zealand are now 2-0 in the Constellation Cup. Joe Allison
“There’s no doubt about it, we were penalised out of the game today,” Green said on Fox.
“We have to be better in making sure we stay in place and don’t release that pressure. We talk about it all the time. But it is imperative that we get it right, especially in New Zealand.
“Because you know the pressure of the crowd, you hear Lizzy Watson talk about perceived pressure, that’s part and parcel of the game and they have to be better at it.”
The Diamonds rallied in the third quarter, reducing an 11-goal deficit to a margin of just three.
However, after the Diamonds were crucially penalised 31 more times in the game than the Silver Ferns, the momentum shifted and the match slipped away from the Australians late in the game.
“The Australia Diamonds, they had it coming into this quarter (and) the New Zealand Silver Ferns have just disrespectfully taken it back,” Cat Tuivaiti said.
Diamonds captain Watson was sombre after the game, calling the result “disappointing, really disappointing,” saying the team shot themselves in the foot in particular instances.
Looking ahead to games three and four, Watson stressed that the Australians couldn’t count on their return to home soil to automatically salvage the series.
“Not relying on (home advantage). It is nice to go home and have a crowd that’s really right behind you, but we can’t rely on that and we know that the Ferns are super hungry for a 4-0 sweep,” Watson said.
“We’re going to love going home and playing in front of a packed-out Sydney and Melbourne because our fans are awesome, but we cannot rely on that.
“I guess it’s disappointing we couldn’t do it here because that was a really big focus for this team.
“Obviously (New Zealand) are a great team...when they go hard, they go really hard, so that can force errors.
“We’ve got to be able to stay calm in those moments and be able to read the game for what it is and not get caught up in what’s happening around us.”
The series moves back to Australia for the final two matches in Sydney on Sunday and Melbourne next Wednesday as the Diamonds try to hold on to the trophy.
