Delhi2010 – Diamonds Fade Against New Zealand

The Silver Ferns have claimed the fourth Commonwealth Games netball gold medal in double over time, triumphing in a trans-Tasman epic against the Australian Diamonds 66-64.

The Diamonds and Ferns gave the Delhi crowd a typical nail biting tussle with the world number two eventually claiming the gold in double overtime thanks to a sublime game by goal attack Maria Tutaia.

Making only one change to the last quarter line-up of their semi-final, with Plummer bringing on Susan Fuhrmann into goal keeper, the Diamonds jumped to an early two goal lead. A Tutaia double brought the Ferns up to speed with the nerves beginning to settle for both teams.

After a controversial penalty in the Diamonds’ circle the Ferns converted to take the lead for the first time in the game. With the match going goal for goal neither team could grab the momentum. A Natalie Medhurst miss gave the New Zealanders a chance to take a two goal lead but errors by both sides ensured the score stayed with the centre pass.

Another Medhurst miss gave Casey Williams the rebound and with the ball rushed down the court Irene van Dyk were able to convert to help New Zealand to the lead but with Sharelle McMahon and Medhurst beginning to fire the Diamonds soon got on top to take a two goal lead. A long ball into van Dyk from Temepara George made the difference one. In the dying seconds, van Dyk took the last shot of the quarter but a rejection by goal defence Mo’onia Gerrard made sure the margin were stayed at 10-9 to the Diamonds at the main change.

The second term went goal for goal in the opening minutes until Medhurst was able to find her radar and break through to give the Diamonds a two goal lead. An error by wing defence Joline Henry gave the Australians a mini break jumping to a four goal margin. A quick van Dyk goal got the reply to stop the Aussie run and soon the Ferns brought the margin back to two – thanks to a long bomb from Tutaia. A Laura Langman error brought the Aussies’ back to a four goal margin.

The Ferns called an injury time to stop the Diamonds flow with the move paying off giving van Dyk a score under the post. A McMahon miss gave Tutaia a long range score narrowing the gap just to two. With centre Natalie von Bertouch working overtime the Australians was able to get ascendency in the midcourt helping the Diamonds to a four goal lead. With the centre going goal for goal neither team could break the gap with a half-time score of 23-20 favouring the Diamonds.

Tutaia was the first to hit the board in the third term, narrowing the margin to two with the Ferns noticeably upping the intensity. But with the Australians rising to the challenge the Ferns couldn’t close the gap. Going goal for goal the tension built in Delhi with both teams heavily supported by the other athletes of their country watching in the stadium.

Williams’ brilliance helped New Zealand close the gap to two, and with an Anna Scarlett intercept the Ferns drew level. Von Bertouch took control in the centre to help the Diamonds find the break and give the Australians’ a three goal lead.

However a resurgent Ferns outfit ensured they would not let the Diamonds run away pulling back the score to 30-all. Trading scores, a Scarlett intercept gave the Ferns the edge, with the New Zealanders taking a two goal lead. A Medhurst goal closed the gap to one but a Tutaia long bomb under the hands on Fuhrmann gave the Ferns a 35-33 lead going into the final quarter.

New Zealand opened the scoring in the final term to push the margin to three, with a McMahon held ball giving the Ferns a chance to push the margin to their biggest lead of the game and van Dyk didn’t disappoint her fans.

With Tutaia on fire the margin suddenly reached seven with the Aussies calling a time out in an attempt to stop the Ferns flow. The stoppage brought Catherine Cox into goal shooter pushing McMahon to goal attack. Plummer also brought Kim Green into wing attack for Lauren Nourse. A McMahon goal gave the Australians some confidence with Cox hitting the next.

A second by Cox narrowed the gap to four with the Aussies beginning to look dangerous. Van Dyk settled the Ferns but Cox was up to the challenge to match the Ferns in the circle and close the margin to three. With McMahon and Tutaia both lifting under the pressure the lead stayed at three.

A loose ball over the baseline meant for Cox meant the Ferns sniffed a break but the Diamonds brought the ball back to again close the game to two goals. The Ferns scored off their centre pass with the New Zealanders working the ball around to finally score. Cox was quick on the reply, dependent with the long bomb however Tutaia continued on her accurate ways slotting an important goal.

A missed ball by Green gave the Ferns a four advantage. Cox brought it back to three, with the Diamonds converting the next centre to putting the pressure right back on the Ferns. A ball over the Ferns baseline gave the Aussies a break with Cox able to convert to narrow the gap to one. Cox levelled with the Ferns taking the next centre pass, a miss shot by van Dyk was matched by another by Cox to leave the score level at full time.

Plummer made one change for extra time bringing on Rebecca Bulley into goal defence pushing Gerrard to wing defence replacing Renae Hallian. The Diamonds were the first to score in the period with Van Dyk levelling up the other end. The scores went goal for goal with both teams slowing down the play.

An error in the attacking end gave the Ferns the break with van Dyk able to push the gap to two. A ball over the Ferns baseline gave the Australians a chance to level with McMahon shooting truly for the Diamonds. Another Cox long bomb put the Diamonds in front with the whistle signalling half-time of extra time 53-52.

A quick Aussie goal gave the Diamonds a two goal lead, which was quickly narrowed to two by Tutaia. A Ferns break levelled the score with Tutaia once again rising to the occasion. Returning to a Ferns centre Tutaia scored to give the Ferns the lead. The captain made sure the score stayed level with Tutaia giving the Ferns the lead again. McMahon shot to level but missed giving the Ferns the opportunity to push it to two, a Gerrard turnover gave the ball back to the Diamonds with Cox drawing the Diamonds even again. A Gerrard intercept gave the Aussies the ball with only a minute to go but Tutaia levelled.

With time running into double extra time both teams battled for a two goal lead. Cox had the opportunity to win the game but missed with Tutaia levelling down the other end. A Ferns goal gave the New Zealanders the lead with an Australian centre to come. Cox shot sweetly to level again, with only Tutaia to take the Ferns one ahead once more.

Cox levelled down the Aussie end with a Diamonds turnover giving the Aussie’s an opportunity to win. But a determined Ferns outfit turned the ball over with Tutaia converting for the Ferns. Cox levelled for the Aussies once again only to be matched by Tutaia at the Ferns end.

A Cox long bomb evened again, with Tutaia once again matching her. Once again Tutaia gave the Ferns a one break lead. A three second call against the Aussies gave the Ferns possession an opportunity to claim the gold. With the Ferns working overtime in the circle Tutaia, the star of the game, scored for the goal medal, winning the match 66-64.

– Netball Australia