Australia have officially swept every netball tournament in 2023 after claiming gold in the Fast 5 series final on Sunday.
Despite being the only side in the tournament not to land a three-point shot in any of their matches, Australia dropped just one game on their way to taking the Fast 5 crown.
The Aussies faced old enemy New Zealand in the decider and were dominant from the opening whistle to take a 35-23 win in Christchurch.
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The result means Australia are now back-to-back Fast 5 champions – while winning every tournament they entered this calendar year in a remarkable show of dominance.
Those titles include January’s Quad Series, the World Cup, Constellation Cup and South Africa Series.
Captain Matilda Garrett described the win as “absolutely unreal” in her Fast 5 series debut.
For New Zealand, it was a disappointing end to what had been a stunning tournament in front of home fans.
The Kiwis were only beaten by Australia in both the pool stages and then in the final.
“We trained so hard and so well but at the end of the day we got beat by a team that played some incredible netball,” Kiwi skipper Michaela Sokolich-Beatson said.
It was Aussie Georgie Horjus who opened scoring in the final after Tiana Metuarua’s early miss under immense pressure from Matilda Garrett.
Some mid-range shots from Horjus ensured the Aussies went out to an early 8-3 lead. But when Tippah Dwan couldn’t convert from two-point range, Amorangi Malesala got it done down the other end.
Only a late penalty on the quarter time buzzer gave Dwan another chance that she nailed to ensure Australia took a 12-7 lead into the first break.
The teams went goal for goal to start the second before Georgia Heffernan nailed her mid-range shot, and Lucy Austin fumbled the ball over the baseline for Australia.
Tayla Williams was unlucky not to win the ball back for Australia when she was met solidly by Kiwi defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson – but the penalty went against her, much to the home crowd’s delight.
A two-point Horjus shot in the power play ensured Australia remained in front with a 20-15 lead at the main break.
New Zealand defender Elle Temu was given a warning for dangerous play early in the third after her late challenge left Aussie midcourter Hannah Mundy sprawled on the court.
The Kiwi attackers were struggling to shoot over the long reach of Ash Ervin, Garrett and Teigan O’Shannassy as Grace Nweke headed to the bench.
By the final change, Australia held a 29-21 advantage heading into the last quarter.
Austin gave Australia their first double figure buffer early in the final term, despite the best efforts of defender Kate Burley who almost pulled in the intercept.
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Metaurua went from three-point range for three successive shots and couldn’t land any of them under the intense Australian defensive pressure.
Nweke was forced to try and go from mid-range and couldn’t convert as Austin helped Australia to a 12-point lead.
Malesala fell short from long range with just over a minute to play as the Kiwis were held to just two points in a disappointing final term finish.
In the men’s format, it was New Zealand who got the win over Australia in the final 51-34.
Player of the tournament went to shooter Paige Reed from bronze medallists England.
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