Diamonds level Constellation Cup series with victory
The Australian Diamonds have levelled the 2013 Constellation Cup series 1-1 after beating the New Zealand Silver Ferns 47-45 at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday.
The hard-fought and confidence boosting victory ends a five-game losing streak for the Diamonds and is just Australia’s third victory at the venue in seven outings.
While Australia trailed early, they soon turned it into an advantage after neither side could settle as turnovers dominated the opening quarter.
Shooter Caitlin Bassett picked up where she left off after a flawless opening Test on Sunday with a perfect 10 goals from 10 attempts in the first quarter as the Diamonds scored seven unanswered goals to lead 11-6 after ten minutes.
The visitors saw their lead vanish by quarter-time with scores level 12-12 before the Australians re-established their advantage, scoring eight goals to one in the opening five minutes of the second quarter to lead 20-13.
The hosts again battled their way back into the contest to level the scores as costly penalties and turnovers by the Diamonds handed the Silver Ferns a reprieve.
New Zealand shooter Maria Tutaia goaled on the stroke of half-time to send the game into half-time all square at 22-22.
Australia, who stuck with the same starting seven for the game, showed good patience in attack while defenders Laura Geitz and Bianca Chatfield created plenty of possession after the main break.
The defensive combination led from the front and played a key role, the pair finishing with seven interceptions and ten deflections for the match, as the Diamonds took a 36-31 lead into the final quarter after holding the Silver Ferns to nine goals for the quarter.
Bassett scored Australia’s 14,000th international goal after seven minutes of the third quarter before scoring the country’s 2000th goal against the Silver Ferns in New Zealand just minutes later.
The trans-Tasman international lived up to reputation as the Silver Ferns overcame five-goal deficit in the final term to get to within one before a timely intercept from Geitz with less than a minute to go ended New Zealand’s hopes.
The five-Test series now returns to Australia for the remaining three Tests in Adelaide (Oct 4), Melbourne (Oct 7) and Canberra (Oct 13).
Australian Diamonds defender Bianca Chatfield was named Player of the Match.
Starting lineups:
Australian Diamonds New Zealand Silver Ferns GS Caitlin Bassett Irene van Dyk GA Natalie Medhurst Maria Tutaia WA Kimberlee Green Anna Thompson C Kimberley Ravaillion Laura Langman WD Renae Hallinan Joline Henry GD Bianca Chatfield Casey Kopua GK Laura Geitz Leana de Bruin
