Silver Ferns Take Honours in Perth

The much anticipated World Championship rematch lived up to expectations in Perth, with the Silver Ferns reversing the July scoreline to defeat the Diamonds by one goal, 49 – 48.

The Ferns dominated for much of the match, heading into half time with a six goal lead and extending that to 11 goals during the third quarter. The Diamonds staged a revival late in the third with the score at 30 – 35 going into the last.

The Diamonds continued their improved form and accuracy in the final quarter, hitting the lead for the first time with just four and half minutes to go.

In a tough and physical battle the scoreline seesawed from that point, with the Ferns holding to take a one-goal victory.

Diamonds defender Julie Corletto left the court at the start of the second quarter after reinjuring her corked thigh.

WAIS netball scholarship holders Caitlin Bassett and Susan Fuhrmann both featured in the match for Australia.

-Reaction:

Australian Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said she learnt a lot about her team’s fighting ability despite going down 49-48 to New Zealand Silver Ferns in the opening Test at Burswood Dome on Sunday.

In the first meeting between the world’s top two sides since the final of the 2011 World Netball Championships, the Diamonds overcame an 11-goal deficit in the third quarter to lead by two in the last before the visitors struck back.

“What I’ve seen in this group is the ability to fight back from an enormous gap in the score and to know that we’ve got the ability to do that,” Alexander said.

“We made a hell of a lot of turnovers today, we threw the ball to them just far too much and you can’t do that and expect not to be punished.”

“I thought our defensive efforts lifted after the first quarter and we put them on the back foot again which is what we needed to do in the first quarter.”

A slow start cost the Diamonds as New Zealand took an early lead. Inaccuracy cost the Diamonds in the first half, converting at just 63% compared to the 85% of 200-Test veteran Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.

Acting captain Catherine Cox was replaced at half-time by Caitlin Bassett, to the delight of her home town fans, which had an immediate impact as the Diamonds shooting accuracy sky rocketed to 90% for the second-half.

“We had the shots, if we had put them in we would have been closer and had the ability to win the second half and the game,” Alexander said.

“We don’t get those chances again so we’ve got to get them in.”

The victory sees New Zealand take a 2-1 lead in the Constellation Cup series with the next Test to come on Wednesday in Adelaide.

-Netball Australia