England’s warning to Australia ahead of the next World Cup with win over Diamonds
England has shocked Australia with a second half burst from their next-gen to claim their first win in Sydney since the 1980s, with the Roses firing a warning to the Diamonds ahead of the next World Cup.
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England has fired a warning shot ahead of the next World Cup, sending its series against the Diamonds into a deciding match after generation next upturned the apple cart to snare a 61-59 victory over a frustrated Australia.
England coach Jess Thirlby rang in the changes in the absence of experienced Super Netball shooter Eleanor Cardwell, who was ruled out for the remainder of the series after Thursday’s opening loss, putting her faith in a host of young guns, who delivered a last-gasp win.
Young shooter Liv Tchine, playmaker Lois Pearson and athletic defender Funmi Fadoju powered the Roses past the Diamonds in a 61-59 thriller at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.
The Diamonds looked to totally have the measure of the visitors in their 13-goal win on Thursday night and led the match into the final quarter, seemingly on the way to wrapping up the series.
But England had other ideas.
The Roses had not won a final quarter in their past four matches against the Diamonds but Thirlby challenged her players to stand up in the final 15 minutes.
“If there was ever a time to show up, it’s now,” Thirlby said.
And England did that, hanging tough in a final quarter that ebbed and flowed and refusing to give in, eventually notching just a third win against the Diamonds in Australia - and the first in Sydney since 1981.
Australia was in a position to win, leading through the match and in the final quarter before losing the lead in the final minutes.
While they still trailed by two goals with just over a minute remaining, they forced a turnover and had the following centre pass but a controversial offensive foul was called, ending their chances.
England deserved the win though, managing to put the brakes on the Aussies’ dynamic style, something the Diamonds had known was coming but failed to combat.
Diamonds captain Liz Watson said the result was disappointing, especially given Australia knew after their game one dominance England would change things up, especially in their physicality.
“We probably didn’t really capitalise on the ball that we got; to their structures that they were playing we probably just didn’t adapt quick enough, so overall (it was) disappointing but we knew that they were going to come out like that,” she said.
“Obviously we’re not going to change everything (before game three), what we’ve done has worked really well for us.
“It’s probably just working out on our long court. We got lots of turnovers and weren’t able to score off that, so just little things but just the belief to know that we can do it.”
NEWBIES SHINE FOR ROSES
Liv Tchine had played just two minutes against Australia heading into this series and Lois Pearson only made her international debut in game two. But the pair played with the fearlessness of youth to give the Roses every chance of upsetting the Diamonds.
Plenty thought the Roses would be in trouble when Eleanor Cardwell was ruled out for the remainder of the series after limping off in the opener after just 15 minutes. It was not just her shooting ability that England would miss but the experience of the Melbourne Mavericks goaler and former Super Netball grand final MVP.
But after a 20-goal cameo in the opening Test, Tchine stepped up with 32 goals at 94 per cent shooting under enormous pressure from a variety of Diamonds goalers.
Pearson was also outstanding, her 26 goal assists and 39 feeds bettering the statline of Diamonds captain Liz Watson.
GARBIN SHINES AGAIN
As expected Cara Koenen started at goal shooter after sitting out the opening Test with Sophie Garbin getting the first crack to partner with Kiera Austin.
Koenen started nervously, missing a couple of shots from under the post in the first quarter, while she and Kiera Austin took a while to find their timing in the moving circle.
The pressure created by Fadoju, who came off the bench for the Roses in the opening Test, but was outstanding starting at goal defence in game two, eventually winning MVP honours, was incredible and led to Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich changing her line-up at halftime, injecting Garbin into the game as a holding shooter where she won a points battle against ‘keeper Fran Williams.
Garbin finished with 24 goals from 25 attempts and is arguably now Australia’s no.1 goal shooter, something that was almost unthinkable just 18 months ago when she was in a battle for a World Cup spot.
HOUSBY AN ENGLAND GREAT
While Fadoju won MVP honours and Pearson, Fadoju and Williams were outstanding, Housby arguably powered the Roses to the win.
While her 29-from-33 shooting was slightly below Tchine, her shooting under pressure, ability to help the ball into the circle and rallying of those around her was crucial.
“I think the beauty of test match netball is you get to have another bite of the apple,” Housby said of the turnaround in just 72 hours.
“For some of our young guns, adjusting to the speed and the physicality, you almost do need a little feel of it.
“That first game, we got our a***s handed to us - sorry for swearing - but we needed that. I think we needed to sharpen up our skill, sharpen up our ball handling.
“But then I’m just incredibly proud of what we came out (with) today. These young ones, they don’t have any fear.
“They’re coming into the system believing England can win and believing that we should win.
“It’s just incredible and I’m so proud of the girls.”
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