Milestone celebrations soured as Diamonds lose nail-biter
The New Zealand Silver Ferns have won the Constellation Cup in just three games as the Australian Diamonds fell to a 52-49 defeat on home soil on Sunday.
In a game where Australia celebrated Courtney Bruce becoming the seventh Diamond to reach 100 caps – a feat she achieved last match – the Silver Ferns spoiled the party after clawing back from an early attacking scare.
Dame Noeline Taurua celebrates winning the Constellation Cup. Getty Images
The Silver Ferns entered the match with just one win in Sydney over the past 12 Constellation Cup games held on Australian soil, with that feat unfolding in 2019.
But their hopes of breaking that winning drought were on the rocks for three of the four quarters, as the Diamonds overcame an injury scare to open the game.
Australia was forced to make an instant change to its starting line-up after Kate Moloney was forced off the court after the first centre pass.
Moloney moved straight to the sidelines in the middle of play as the Silver Ferns scored via Grace Nweke after realising she had dislocated her finger.
However, it was a different finger to the one she had split open and required 12 stitches to mend during the first game of the series.
The midcourt star was upbeat despite the nasty nature of her injury, spotted showing her teammates Jamie-Lee Price and Matilda Garrett – who were ruled out of the game due to injury – her wound before heading down the tunnel.
With Moloney off, captain Liz Watson shifted into centre, while Georgie Horjus took the WA bid and Sophie Dwyer came on as goal shooter to partner Sophie Garbin.
Jessie Grenvold completed her homework after a tough two straight losses on New Zealand soil on how to shut down Nweke, with the star Silver Ferns shooter struggling to grab lob passes into the circle.
The confusion of Nweke, who is known to be strong in aerial attacking contests, helped the Diamonds secure a four-point lead at quarter-time.
Diamonds coach Stacy Marinkovich praised the confidence of Jessie Grenvold in shutting down Nweke in the second quarter as well, but the class of the Silver Ferns that fans had witnessed over the previous two games eventually was put back on show as they levelled the scores at 26-all by half-time.
By the end of the third quarter, the visitors looked to have reverted to their old ways that troubled them in the first quarter, but they rallied back in the final quarter.
Much to the disappointment of the crowd, the attacking brilliance of Kate Heffernan helped the Silver Ferns secure victory, with Nweke nailing shots.
The Silver Ferns need to win the final game of the series to overtake the Diamonds for top spot on the world rankings – a mantle they have not held since 2013.
Liz Watson was in no mood to let her teammates fear losing the title.
Sophie Garbin leaps up to collect a pass. Getty Images
“You play for your country and you want to win ... but we know that it is hard to get to No.1 and it’s even harder to stay at No.1,” the Australian skipper said post-game.
“We are very well aware that teams are chasing us, not just the Ferns but anyone who plays the Diamonds. But we have to stay focused on staying there and doing what we can to be where we want to be, which is at the top.”
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua is not too focused on the No.1 ranking.
“One of the things we talked about leading into the Commonwealth Games was the opportunity to write the next chapter of our book,” she said post-game.
“We’re within cooee of Australia now and we are getting closer to progressing ... we’re just riding the wave at the minute and enjoying the moments.
“I think we are coming of age and maturity. Some of us have been around for a while, been through the good times, the bad times and suffered a lot.
“Today was a big fight for us out there. We’re now at that stage where there’s an amazing amount of confidence ... so it makes my job easier.
“But it would be remiss of us if we’d be fat-headed and start celebrating this stuff. We know how good (Australia) are, as is Jamaica and England.
“It is one moment at a time, we’re progressing in the right direction.”
Karin Burger reassured her coach the team would work not to become complacent.
“It is all about constant reminders for us,” the Silver Ferns captain said.
“For us, it is not just about winning and the opposition, it is about putting out a performance that we are proud of and shows what we are capable of doing as a team but also as individuals.
“We know every team is going to bring their all against us, so any game out there is going to be tough.”
Australia will face the Silver Ferns one last time in Melbourne on Wednesday.
