It all comes down to this – Australia take on New Zealand in tonight’s game four decider to determine the 2025 Constellation Cup champions.
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich backed in her same starting seven for the fourth straight match – and it paid off early with the Aussies opening up a six-goal half-time buffer.
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STARTING SEVEN
Australia: GS Garbin, GA Austin, WA Watson, C Moloney, WD Price, GD Aryang, GK Bruce
New Zealand: GS Nweke, GA G.Heffernan, WA Reuelu-Buchanan, C Gordon, WD K.Heffernan, GD Burger, GK Jackson
Kiera Austin was the standout in the opening term eight goals and three assists, before partner-in crime Sophie Garbin took over in the second with 12 goals.
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It was a patient Australian attack in that first half, repeatedly going backwards to avoid the crosscourt balls that were easily picked off in game three.
“This Australian attack end, for me it’s the angles and the placement and the timing – it’s making them pretty hard to stop at the moment,” Diamonds great Cath Cox praised.
Silver Ferns skipper Karin Burger drew unwanted umpire attention in that first half when she was marched inside the circle for a deliberate obstruction when the Aussies made a fast break.
And down the other end, it was Sunday Aryang and Jamie-Lee Price causing problems for the Ferns’ attack.
Kiwi goal attack Georgia Heffernan went to the bench midway through the second term, but her replacement Amelia Walmsley had a horror few minutes.
Walmsley missed her opening shot, overcooked a ball to star shooter Grace Nweke and then provided the “coach killer” of coughing up the offensive contact on Ash Ervin (who replaced Bruce late in the quarter), just as Nweke had sunk the goal.
Walmsley was clearly rocked by what Kiwi commentators called a “50-50 call”, but it came just as the Ferns were building momentum – and the Aussies made them pay.
At the main break, it was Australia with one hand on the Constellation Cup, with a 33-27 lead.
But wholesale Kiwi changes – where just goal shooter Nweke and goal keeper Kelly Jackson stayed in position saw the home side rally.
The injection of Catherine Hall at goal defence proved a game changer for the Kiwis as the youngster had hands in everything.
Hall was proving a menace with four deflections and two gains in just 10 minutes of game time.
Her influence allowed the Kiwis to level scores late n the term before a few Courtney Bruce saves ensured it was Australia turning for home with a three-goal buffer.
ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS
The Diamonds had the chance to seal the series win on Sunday after two big wins in Australia, but couldn’t get the job done.
And now those wins on home soil count for nothing as the Kiwis could level the series at 2-all tonight.
But the Diamonds get one final crack at redemption in Christchurch – win and the Cup is coming home.
Lose? And the series will head to an historic Series Decider extra time for the first time.
“We hope it doesn’t get to that – we hope we can do it in 60 minutes,” Diamonds captain Liz Watson said.
Teams will get a 12-minute break before the extra time begins if needed.
Silver Ferns hit back at Diamonds | 02:46
Australia’s shocking record across the ditch is a worrying factor heading into the decider, with their losing streak now at nine after that game three disaster in Hamilton.
“It’s no lie we have that record here – it’s not awesome,” captain Liz Watson said.
“We’ve got to be able to play anywhere at any time.”
The Diamonds have made one change for the deciding final Test with 192cm rookie Ash Ervin named in place of Matilda Garrett.
The Silver Ferns will go in unchanged off the back of their nine-goal win last Sunday.
The final Constellation Cup Test begins at 5.40pm AEDT from Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch.
SQUADS:
Australia: Sunday Aryang, Kiera Austin, Courtney Bruce, Sophie Dwyer, Ash Ervin, Sophie Garbin, Georgie Horjus, Sarah Klau, Cara Koenen, Kate Moloney, Jamie-Lee Price, Liz Watson
New Zealand: Karin Burger, Maddy Gordon, Catherine Hall, Georgia Heffernan, Kate Heffernan, Kelly Jackson, Parris Mason, Grace Nweke, Kimiora Poi, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Martina Salmon, Amelia Walmsley
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