Diamonds Win Sets Up Series Decider

The Australian Diamonds has levelled its three test series against arch rivals New Zealand with a convincing fourth quarter performance that set up a 51-44 win in Adelaide overnight.

The World Champion Australian outfit bounced back from its one goal defeat in Perth last weekend to dominant the final term, outscoring New Zealand 15 goals to eight in front of 6,500 fans, leaving the series set for a grand finale in Sunday’s third test in Melbourne.

The two teams have played a string of heart-stopping matches dating back to the Commonwealth Games gold medal match in India last year, and after scores were level at 36-36 at three quarter time, it appeared the second test would mirror that of this year’s World Championships final, and the most recent test in Perth last Sunday.

But after a quiet performance from ever-green shooter Catherine Cox in the first test, the new West Coast Fever recruit returned to her intimidating best with 35 goals in a player of the match performance.

New Zealand had the early run of the match, taking a two goal advantage into the first break, before a tense second term saw that margin halved. Australia again shaved the third quarter to even scores, before the pressure told in the last, with Cox shooting eight goals and Medhurst a perfect seven from seven (17 goals for the match) to force the series into a decider.

New Zealand was without the services of champion goal shooter Irene Van Dyk, and there forward pairing of Latu and Tutaia was well marshalled by WAIS athlete Susan Fuhrmann and Julie Corletto.