Australian Diamonds remain undefeated in Thwaites debut
The Australian Diamonds continued their winning form in the 2012 Quad-Series with a 68-36 victory over South Africa at TSB Bank Arena in Wellington, New Zealand on Thursday night.
Along with maintaining their undefeated record in this year’s four nation tournament, the Diamonds had reason to celebrate with shooter Caitlin Thwaites making her international debut and Chanel Gomes making her first start in the green and gold.
The Diamonds were quickest out of the blocks with three unanswered goals from the first whistle before the South Africans settled their nerves to be patient with ball in hand to battle back, momentarily taking a 5-4 lead.
The South Africans executed the basics well to put pressure on the reigning world champions as the two sides went goal for goal until an injury time out from Mo’onia Gerrard. The stoppage allowed the Australians to re-gather and go on to steal the momentum, scoring seven straight to lead 19-9 at quarter-time.
Despite receiving plenty of attention from defenders Karla Mostert and Vanes-Mari De Toit under the post, Diamonds shooters Caitlin Bassett and Erin Bell got plenty of ball from Madison Browne and Chelsea Pitman to convert 33 of 36 attempts in the first half.
With a 33-18 lead at the main break, coach Lisa Alexander made a host of changes with only Chelsea Pitman surviving the half-time break in the same position while Thwaites was handed her international debut, replacing Bassett, at goal shooter.
Thwaites, who received a big cheer from her adopted home crowd in Wellington, became the Diamonds 158th representative and had an immediate impact at goal shooter, scoring her first international goal within a minute before finishing the game with a perfect 23/23.
Rebecca Bulley replaced Bianca Chatfield at goal keeper, Chanel Gomes, making her first Diamonds starting seven, shifted from wing defence to goal defence, Renae Hallinan came on at centre and Susan Pratley partnered the debutant in the circle.
The new look line up picked up where the others left off to extend their advantage to 19 goals at three-quarter time with pinpoint shooting from Thwaites and Pratley in the circle.
Alexander made one change at the final break, bringing Bell back on but this time at wing attack, and the Diamonds made sure the pressure didn’t drop. The shooting pair piled on another 20 goals to stretch the final margin to 32.
Gomes was named MVP with a strong defensive effort throughout her first full game for the Australian Diamonds.
