The Diamonds suffered a second straight Constellation Cup loss on Monday, but they’ve still taken the series win thanks to massive victories in Australia.
The Silver Ferns needed to win by 17 goals or more to claim the Cup for just the third time, but their 53-50 victory wasn’t enough in Auckland.
It was a brilliant fightback by the Ferns who trailed by as many as six goals before a stunning final quarter effort.
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With Kelly Jury on top in goal keeper, it was the Kiwis who gave the Auckland crowd something to cheer about.
Scores were tied with just two minutes to play before Jury came up with her side’s fifth turnover for the term.
The result means both nations claim two victories in their respective countries – but it’s Australia who win the series with a 13-goal differential.
“Way to finish on a high… f–k let’s enjoy it,” Ferns’ skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio told teammates.
“I think we have shown so much growth… we don’t come away with the Cup but I’m still super proud.”
Karin Burger was named player of the match – despite drawing a warning from umpires during the contest.
Grace Nweke, in her first full match back from a serious knee injury, led her side with 37/39 goals, while for Australia Sophie Garbin landed 33/36.
“Obviously disappointed with our last two games… but proud to keep this Cup,” Diamonds skipper Liz Watson said.
For the Diamonds, they will now head straight back to Australia head of Wednesday’s first Test against South Africa.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
STARTING SEVEN
Australia: GS Garbin GA Austin, WA Watson, C Hadley, WD Price, GD Weston, GK Bruce
New Zealand: GS Nweke, GA Ekenasio, WA Buchanan, C Gordon, WD Heffernan, GD Burger, GK Jury
Kiera Austin missed with her first shot, but a lucky throw in call for Australia saw Sophie Garbin land the opener in Auckland.
Too much on the pass to Grace Nweke gave the Diamonds an early break opportunity but down the other end, game three MVP Kelly Jury won back ball.
Karin Burger thought she’d pulled in a brilliant intercept, but the call went against her.
When Maddy Gordon couldn’t handle a hot pass, Liz Watson found Garbin over the top of Jury in promising signs for the Aussie’s confidence.
“She is doing the bulk of the scoring for the Diamonds,” commentator Caitlin Bassett praised of Garbin.
An uncharacteristic mistake by Watson to throw the ball over the baseline gave New Zealand the chance to level scores once again – but they threw it away.
“New Zealand made an absolute mess of that one!” commentator Catherine Cox said.
“They look a little spooked now.”
Four turnovers in seven minutes for play for New Zealand was proving costly as the Aussies pushed out to a five-goal lead.
“These are gimmes New Zealand are handing to them,” Bassett added.
“It’s a get out of jail free card for the Diamonds at the moment.”
The change came from the Ferns with Whitney Souness getting her first minutes at WA.
And the home side started to close – thanks to a Maddy Gordon intercept in the midcourt.
By the first change it was Australia leading 15-12.
Jamie-Lee Price was unlucky not to come up with ball early in the second when she appeared in front spot of Souness, but the call went against her.
Austin hit the deck in big contact with Burger, and then missed the shot as New Zealand closed to within one-goal.
Another controversial call against Burger saw the Aussies maintain possession on the baseline – with replays showing Austin was last to touch it.
The Kiwi goal defender was again in the thick of the action as she thought she’s pulled in another ball.
“Karin Burger’s got to be careful – she’s the most penalised of any player on court at the moment,” Bassett said.
“Trying to ruffle some feathers early,” Cox added.
Two big replay calls against Australia allowed the Ferns’ to stay in touch midway through the second term, but a contact call on Nweke gifted the Diamonds ball back.
With Bruce starting to get hands on ball outside the circle, Taurua pleaded with skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio to “open your vision”.
Ekenasio went to the bench moments later as youngster Tiana Metuarua was injected at GA.
Miscommunication between Austin and Garbin saw the ball thrown away on the sideline and the Ferns’ converted.
By the main break, Australia still held a two-goal lead – with Garbin sitting at 24/25 for the half.
“She’s been ridiculously hard to stop,” Bassett praised.
Bruce had an early win in the third, but from that point momentum swung with New Zealand.
A third replay call against Australia and a big defensive win by the Ferns’ saw scores levelled – but Souness coughed up the ball when her side looked to take the lead for the first time in the match.
“There was the opportunity,” Cox lamented.
And that became a theme for the third term for the Silver Ferns as they won back ball repeatedly – but couldn’t convert.
Boos rang out when Nweke was hit with a replay call – thinking she’d heard the whistle, but a rare held ball gifted ball back to the Ferns.
Kate Moloney came on in centre as Hadley headed to the bench in the first change for the Diamonds.
Again bad hands were costing the Kiwis right when they appeared in control.
“The fumbles have been killing the Silver Ferns,” Bassett said.
“The defenders are doing all the hard work for the attack end to just throw it away.”
“It’s absolutely frustrating,” Nat Medhurst added.
Burger was given a caution midway through the third for deliberate obstruction as she continued to draw the umpire’s whistle.
Down the other end, Moloney copped her own caution for a late challenge – despite being on court for just minutes.
Cara Koenen became Australia’s second change as she came on as goal attack to partner Garbin.
Metaurua became the third player cautioned in the quarter – hers for persistent contact in the centre third.
Despite struggling in front of goal, Koenen was keeping the Kiwi defence occupied to free up Garbin.
By the final change, Australia held a 41-38 lead.
Bruce had another early win as the margin pushed out to five goal with Ekenasio returning to the court for New Zealand.
More controversial throw in calls upset the Aussie defence as the Ferns started to surge.
Weston tried to force a ball into Garbin and coughed up possession to allow the home side to close to two with the centre pass to come.
When Jury won a long ball meant for Koenen over the top, suddenly the Ferns were in the lead for the first time in the match with less than eight minutes to go.
Sarah Klau was brought on for her first minutes as the pressure ramped up and it was Gordon this time with the intercept.
“They can do no wrong the Silver Ferns,” Cox said.
Austin returned to the court at goal attack as the Ferns enjoyed an 11-5 goal run.
Bodies hit the court at both ends, with Sunday Aryang coming into wing defence in a last roll of the dice by Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich.
Scores were levelled with just two minutes to play before Jury once again got involved and ensured her side held on for a three-goal win.
Garbin managed just 5/5 in the final term, a disappointing finish to what had been an outstanding display.
AUSSIE VETERAN FINISHES CAREER ON A HIGH
The Australian Kelpies already had the Trans-Tasman Cup wrapped up heading into the third and final Test in Auckland on Monday.
But the Aussies again came out firing before running out 68-54 winners in what was midcourter Dylan McPherson’s final match in the green and gold.
In tears during the anthem, it was confirmed post-match that the 14-goal victory would be McPherson’s last for the Kelpies.
For the Net Blacks, it was Junior Levi leading the way once again with 47/48 goals before finishing the match on the bench.
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