Diamonds lifting to new level as South Africa emerge as netball danger team
Australian Gabi Simpson says the looming selection for the Commonwealth Games is lifting the Diamond to a new level as they open the Quad series with a 36th straight victory over South Africa — but by their smallest margin in more than half a century.
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AUSTRALIAN midcourter Gabi Simpson says the looming selection for the Commonwealth Games is lifting the Diamond to a new level as they opened their Quad series campaign with a 36th straight victory over South Africa — but by their smallest margin in more than half a century.
As the Proteas enhanced their growing reputation as the new danger team of world netball with a gallant display against the Diamonds, Simpson and her cohorts steadied in the final quarter to snare a 54-50 win in the Test match played in London on Sunday.
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It was the closest match in 51 years between the two netball nations, breaking the old record of a six goal difference in the 2017 Quad series.
But coach Lisa Alexander was happy with the result as she continues to experiment with new combinations before the team attempts to defend its Commonwealth Games crown.
“Having a squad of 14 is lifting us to a new level,” said Diamonds vice-captain Simpson from England.
“We have individual accountability and we know we have to be a great unit and connect with each other to get in to the Commonwealth Games.”
“But we are still experimenting. One thing we have been working on is using all our players in games and really mixing things up.’’
Only 12 athletes will play at the Commonwealth Games where Australia and South Africa have been drawn in the same pool opposite England, who on Sunday threw a massive scare through the New Zealand camp with their 64-57 overtime win against the Silver Ferns.
Simpson said the final period surge, which sealed the match for the Diamonds, had given them additional confidence for their meeting with England early Tuesday AEDT.
intact.
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“We learned from that last quarter that when the going gets tough we can push out a win,” Simpson said.
“It will give us confidence going forward that we can get ourselves out of potentially bad situations.”
Alexander said she was not surprised at how close the match was with a team helmed by former Diamonds coach Norma Plummer.
“People need to understand that South Africa is no longer a team that you can beat by 20 goals,” Alexander said.
“That’s very clear, they have improved enormously.
“They are stronger and fitter, they have a great combination that’s worked together for quite a while now and they are doing quite a good job as a team.
“It’s tough for us to come up against them, but at the end of the day we did what was needed, when needed. I was pleased.”
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Australia 54 d South Africa 50
Australia: Caitlin Thwaites 22/23 (96%), Gretel Tippett 8/9 (89%), Caitlin Bassett 13/14 (93%), Susan Pettitt 11/11 (100%).
South Africa: Lenize Potgieter 34/38 (89%), Maryka Holtzhausen 16/18 (89%).
Match MVP: Bongiwe Msomi (South Africa)
Netball Quad Series — Test 2
England Roses v Samsung Diamonds
Tuesday at 6.45am AEDT
Copper Box Arena, London
TV
GEM January 23 at 6.45am AEDT