Constellation Cup 2023: Australian Diamonds defeat NZ Silver Ferns 55-46 in second Test

Australia has celebrated its 500th Test in style, with the Diamonds taking a near-unassailable lead in the Constellation Cup with a strong win over New Zealand.

Australia has celebrated its 500th Test in style, the Diamonds all but sealing the Constellation Cup after a 55-46 victory in the second Test in Brisbane.

The win, in front of 9117 fans at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, gives the Diamonds a 19-goal lead on the Ferns, who now need to win both games in New Zealand and erase that margin in the process to regain the Cup.

While the Diamonds are evolving after the post-World Cup retirements of Ash Brazill and Steph Wood from their championship team, it was a performance befitting a milestone match.

“This team hasn’t been together too long and it just shows what everyone has done before us and that’s how the legacy has continued to be passed on,” Marinkovich said of celebrating the milestone.

“It also is symbolic for our girls right now that we have a contribution to the ‘Sisters in Arms’ and we’ve got to make sure that we keep turning up, making sure that we’re playing hard and representing the hard work that everyone has done to get us to this point.”

Diamonds shooter Cara Koenen was outstanding, finishing with 33 goals without a miss as she stamped herself the senior shooter in the Diamonds’ outfit after the retirement of Steph Wood.

She almost added a long-range speccy at the end but was beaten by the buzzer as the Diamonds rounded out a comprehensive victory.

Liz Watson of the Australian Diamonds during the strong win. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

“I think she is growing and I think there were some things she really wanted to target in this game and I thought she executed those really well,” Marinkovich said.

“We were able to use her movement, we were able to use the back space - and I think she is becoming a little bit more elusive and in the variety that she’s got .

“She’s always had some tricks in her pocket but it’s picking the right moment to use them - and the combination that she’s got with Kiera (Austin) at the moment, it’s pretty seamless and I’m looking forward to seeing what variety we can still go through with our other shooters.”

Australia did not have things all their own way though after the return of towering Kiwi goal shooter Grace Nweke, who finished with 21 goals in half a game in her return from a knee injury that ended her World Cup campaign early.

The Ferns closed to within two goals early in the second term on the back of a 4-1 run following Nweke’s injection into the game and while she gave her side a boost, she also gave away a two offensive penalties early as she resumed her enthralling physical battle with Diamonds goalkeeper Courtney Bruce.

Bruce finished with a points verdict over both Nweke and Amelia Walmsley but it could be different across the ditch next week when Nweke is expected to be ready for more court time.

Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua said she was proud of the 21-year-old’s work ethic in rehabilitation which had her ready for action a week ahead of her expected return.

The Ferns lifted with their holding shooter on the court, with both quarters she was on the floor ending in draws as the Kiwis surged.

“One of the things we realised at the Netball World Cup was the presence of Gracie - not only on court but off the court,” Taurua said.

“Obviously she’s got the stature, she’s got the size, she’s got the physicality and she’s got the desire.

“But I think the (biggest) thing I can attribute to Gracie at the moment is her determination to get back from this injury.”

Cara Koenen finished with 33 goals without a miss. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich has made few changes throughout the opening two matches, running the bulk of her World Cup-winning side throughout the contest in the ultimate compliment to the Ferns, who missed the podium in Cape Town.

The Diamonds made just three changes, bringing Sarah Klau in for Jo Weston in defence midway through the third term, while Kate Moloney (wing defence) and Sophie Dwyer (goal attack) came on in the final minutes.

The Ferns threw everything at Australia though – rotating their defence, injecting Nweke for half the match and bringing Tiana Metuarau in for captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio as they tried to break through the suffocating Diamonds’ defence.

The Australian midcourt controlled the match as usual as well, with Paige Hadley outstanding in her 50th Test.

“It’s just so special,” Hadley told Fox Netball after finishing with 19 goal assists and 29 feeds in a player of the match effort.

“Any cap I’m grateful for, so to get 50 with this group is incredible.”

Diamonds captain Liz Watson paid tribute to Hadley’s importance to the group.

“I think she’s just the ultimate professional … we’re very, very lucky to have her in our group.”

The Diamonds fly to New Zealand on Monday ahead of the third Test in Invercargill on Thursday night.

WELCOME TO COUNTRY WITHDRAWN

Netball Australia chief executive Kelly Ryan has committed to the sport “elevating and listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the sport” after performing the acknowledgement of country ahead of the Diamonds’ Constellation Cup clash.

While a traditional elder had been engaged to perform the official Welcome to Country, it’s understood they withdrew in the wake of the result of Saturday’s referendum.

Ryan instead addressed a packed house at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

“We had planned to open tonight’s match with a Welcome to Country, as has been a customary and integral part of netball. We acknowledge how difficult today is for First Nations people,” Ryan said before acknowledging the traditional custodians of Brisbane (Meanjin), the Jagera and Turrbal people.

“We commit to elevating and listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the sport of netball – our athletes, coaches, umpires, staff and volunteers.

“Netball Australia is proud of the role we must play in building a culture of equity, respect and recognition of the cultures, histories and contributions of all First Nations people who play and engage with our sport.”

Rate that from Kelly Ryan. Wearing Ganurra and acknowledging the hurt that many are feeling today. May we continue to see actions that reflect those words. #NetClips#ConCup23pic.twitter.com/E245C5Cawk

— Jessica Currie (@Jess_M_Currie) October 15, 2023

THREE-QUARTER TIME – DIAMONDS SURGE TO HUGE LEAD

Grace Nweke’s impact was short-lived however, heading back to the bench after a quarter given she is still early in her rehab.

“We’ve got limited time as to what we can do around her, so we’ve got to be smart with that,” Ferns coach Noeline Taurua said.

It didn’t change the physicality in the circle though, with Bruce and Sarah Klau, when she was injected at goal defence, sweating on Amelia Walmsley and Ameliaranne Ekenasio struggling to push to post, eventually replaced by Tiana Metuarau.

Cara Koenen continued her metronomic shooting in the third term, remaining without a miss from 23 shots.

The Aussies lead 41-32 heading into the final term and can all but seal the Constellation Cup with victory.

HALF TIME – SUPERSTAR BATTLE BACK ON

The Grace Nweke v Courtney Bruce battle is back on – and the spoils are almost evenly split.

The return of Nweke seemed to lift the Ferns, who opened the second term with a 4-1 run to get within two goals of the Diamonds.

But Australia’s defenders worked overtime to gain ball and while it wasn’t always rewarded by their shooters – Kiera Austin headed to the long break with an uncharacteristic 12-of-16 shooting – they managed to remain on top, heading to halftime with a four-goal lead.

Grace Nweke during her mixed return from injury. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

Bruce and Nweke had a ding-dong battle at the Quad Series in South Africa at the start of the year and their possible clash was being touted as a highlight of the World Cup before the towering shooter injured her knee in Cape Town, ending her tournament early.

The pair quickly resumed their battle, with Bruce taking early honours after Nweke picked up a couple of offensive contacts in the second term.

“I’m really happy to be out there at the moment, definitely I think it shows that it’s my first game in a while,” Nweke told Fox Netball heading into the main break.

“It took a while for me to get back to that head space of playing against arguably the best defence in the world, so I’m just trying to get back into that head space of hustling for every ball.”

But she was confident the Ferns could fight back.

“We’ve had a couple of key opportunities that we haven’t been able to capitalise on and it’s really frustrating. We know we’re just about there.”

QUARTER TIME – DIAMONDS LEAD BY FIVE

Australia is in a strong position after the opening quarter of the match despite the Silver Ferns scoring the final two goals of the term to claw their way back to within five goals at the opening break.

The Diamonds led by as many as seven late in the period before the Kiwis capitalised on a loose pass in the Aussie circle and made up some ground.

The teams went goal for goal in the early stages but the Diamonds were able to break away, again causing the Ferns grief with their suffocating defence.

But Grace Nweke has entered the court for the Ferns in what will be a massive boost to the team’s confidence in her first match back since injuring her knee at the World Cup.

Australia leads by five points at the first break. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

AUSTRALIAN MEN SEAL VICTORY

Australia has sealed the men’s Test series against New Zealand with a 63-49 win in the second match at Brisbane.

After winning the opening game of the series in Melbourne, the Kelpies won the second Test with a dominant display at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane on Sunday night to retain the series.

It was only in the fourth quarter that the Kelpies pulled away from the Net Blacks though after winning by more than 30 goals in the opening match.

Goal attack Brodie Roberts, named player of the match, said it felt amazing to play in front of the Brisbane crowd.

“To come to a new state and win the cup, it doesn’t get any better,” said Roberts, who was a member of the national team that played for the first time ahead of the women in Melbourne last year and again on Thursday night.

“Just getting out there with the ‘Kelpies’ name for the first time and hearing people yell out: ‘Go Kelpies’ in the crowd, there’s no words.”

Kelpies captain Dylan Nexhip was proud of his team’s effort following on from Thursday night.

“To be able to come out here and claim the series, that’s what we’ve been working for and that’s what we really wanted,” he said.

“We knew that (New Zealand) were going to get lots of learnings from the least game and they really stepped it up.

“We’ve got trust in every single one of us out on court and we were able to do the job today.”

Net Blacks captain Junior Levi, the towering man-mountain who shouldered the scoring load for the Kiwis to keep them in the contest for much of the match, said he was proud of his side.

“We went back and had a lot of really hard talks and conversations about everyone’s efforts (after Thursday’s loss) – and more than anything tonight we put in an effort that we can all be proud of.”

Brodie Roberts was named player of the match. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

DIAMONDS MAKE ONE CHANGE

Coach Stacey Marinkovich has made just one change to the Diamonds starting side for their historic 500th Test match in Brisbane.

Sunday Aryang comes into the line-up at wing defence in place of Jamie-Lee Price in the only change from the side that started the opening match of the Constellation Cup series in Melbourne.

Aryang was outstanding when injected into the side for the final quarter in Thursday’s opener, won 50-40 by the Diamonds.

There are no other changes to the starting side, with Cara Koenen and Kiera Austin to start as shooters, captain Liz Watson and Paige Hadley in the midcourt with Aryang and Jo Weston and Courtney Bruce at the defensive end to open game two at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Hadley, who limped from the court just before the quarter-time break in Melbourne after hyperextending her knee, will play her 50th Test for the Diamonds.

Price, Sophie Garbin, Sophie Dwyer, Kate Moloney and Sarah Klau will start on the bench.

New Zealand have also made one change, bringing Karin Burger in at goal defence in place of Phoenix Karaka, who started in Melbourne.

Sunday Aryang comes into the line-up at wing defence. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Karaka will line-up alongside Kelly Jury in defence, with Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Maddy Gordon and Kate Heffernan in the midcourt.

Young gun Amelia Walmsley will start at goal shooter again, with captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio to again bear much of the scoring and feeding responsibility.

But Grace Nweke has been included on the bench after missing game one entirely.

Nweke has been rehabbing a knee injury sustained at the World Cup and while initial reports suggested she would not return until the New Zealand legs of the series, from next week, her inclusion in the 12 today suggests she will appear at some stage.

Karaka, Tiana Metuarau, Grace Nweke, Whitney Souness and Jane Watson are on the bench.

Diamonds goaler Kiera Austin got the jump on Karaka in game one, the World Cup final MVP helping the Diamonds gain the upper hand in the second quarter after a close start to the match.

A win in the second game of the series would all but seal the four-match series, although it would not guarantee the tournament win.

Australia regained the Cup last year despite losing the opening two games of the series in New Zealand and Marinkovich will have her troops on high alert, expecting a fightback from the world no.2.

STARTING SEVEN

Australia: GS Koenen, GA Austin, WA Watson (c), C Hadley, WD Aryang, GD Weston, GK Bruce

New Zealand: GS Walmsley, GA Ekenasio (c), WA Reuelu-Buchanan, C Gordon, WD Heffernan, GD Burger, GK Jury