Diamonds hold on to No.1 ranking as rocky road ends
The Australian Diamonds will hold on to the No.1 world ranking after toppling the Silver Ferns 68-58 in the final game of the Constellation Cup series.
The pressure was on Australia to crawl out of a slump, having missed out on a gold at the Commonwealth Games then lost the Constellation Cup in game three.
The Diamonds rallied together at half-time. Getty Images
Stacey Marinkovich opted for the same starting line-up that tested the Silver Ferns in game three, with all eyes on the group to do whatever it took to avoid a series whitewash and keep the top honour the nation has held since 2013.
Australian fans were up and roaring in Melbourne as the starting group claimed a four goal lead in the first quarter, with the Silver Ferns scrambling in defence.
The gap between Australia and the Silver Ferns narrowed to two at half-time, despite most of the second quarter being goal for goal between the nations.
But 14 changes in 15 minutes in the third quarter rattled the momentum of the Silver Ferns, who opened the door for Australia to claim a seven point lead.
By full-time, the clinical Diamonds outfit secured a 10 goal victory.
“They deserve to be able to smile after that one,” former Diamond Bianca Chatfield said on Fox Netball.
Georgie Horjus and captain Liz Watson admitted post-game that tough conversations were had within the team camp after losing the first two games, then again when the Constellation Cup was won in game three in Sydney.
But despite the series defeat, both believe the team showed signs of growth.
“We are really happy with that game,” Horjus, player of the match, said.
“It was hard because we all felt really good and that the team was connected, but we weren’t getting on the scoreboard (to start).”
Watson added: “There is still so much to like and so much growth. There is so much we want to get better at ... hopefully we can bring it next time.”
Silver Ferns celebrated their 3-1 win. Getty Images
The Silver Ferns, despite being disappointed, still left Melbourne celebrating as they were presented with the Constellation Cup trophy shortly after their defeat.
“We wanted to go 4-0 which is something we haven’t done before. It is disappointing but we will look at that,” Kiwi shooter Te Paea Selby-Rikit said.
“We won the Constellation Cup which doesn’t come around often. We are happy.”
The Diamonds don’t have any Test matches locked in before their home Netball World Cup next year. The Silver Ferns will face their men’s team next month.
