Diamonds facing series defeat as Silver Ferns get upper hand again in New Zealand
Updated . First published at
The Australian Diamonds' Constellation Cup campaign is languishing after the side suffered a second consecutive loss to New Zealand on Wednesday evening.
The 11-goal loss builds on the Kiwi's shock 64-50 win in the series opener on Sunday.
The Diamonds will now return from New Zealand for the remaining two matches of the series, during which the winner of the annual trans-Tasman battle will be crowned.
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Madeline Gordon of New Zealand and Jamie-Lee Price of Australia challenge for the ball during game two of the Constellation Cup. Dave Rowland via Getty Images
The 63-52 loss in Auckland also marked Australia's eighth straight loss on New Zealand soil.
With coach Stacey Marinkovich stamping her 50th Test match at the helm, a few changes were made but the same uncharacteristic errors from game one persisted.
Captain and star midcourter Liz Watson was benched at quarter time as the Diamonds again struggled to curb the attacking prowess of the Silver Ferns.
Towering shooter Grace Nweke shot at 92 per cent for 47 goals from 51 attempts, combining in unstoppable fashion with Ameliaranne Ekenasio who drained 16 from 18.
Dominance flowed down the court as New Zealand's ring defence line-up of Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger came up with eight gains between them.
Sophie Garbin finished as the Aussies' top shooters with 30 goals at 91 per cent accuracy.
However, Australia played into the hands of New Zealand with Garbin racking up five turnovers and Kiera Austin three before she came to the bench late in the second quarter.
Remarkably, Marinkovich made changes to every position on the court apart from goal shooter Garbin and centre Jamie-Lee Price.
Australia's Liz Watson passes. Phil Walter via Getty Images
With the ball continuously picked off down Australia's end, former Diamond Kim Green told Fox Netball that the match looked like a "training run" for the hosts.
The reigning world champions won the third quarter and came within seven goals in the final term but the Silver Ferns kept their composure to seal the win.
The Diamonds' performances come as a shock after the team recorded a 2-1 series win over England last month.
The English Roses also beat the Ferns 2-1 in their subsequent series earlier this month.
The Diamonds are now 2-0 down in the four-game series — an unfamiliar position having won nine of the last 10 Constellation Cups.
With this being the first instalment that additional time will be played at the end of the final match if the teams have won two games apiece to conclude the series, the Diamonds must win their remaining two fixtures in Perth and Melbourne.
From there, a winner-takes-all series decider of two seven-minute halves will determine the victor.
