‘This is nuts!’: Australia win Quad Series Netball final in ‘extraordinary’ umpiring ‘farce’

Australia won the Quad Series netball title over New Zealand in a final marred by an extraordinary umpiring farce that beggars belief.

Australia has won another Quad Series title after defeating arch rivals New Zealand in a final marred by one of the most controversial moments of umpiring in recent netball history.

The Diamonds overcame an early deficit in Cape Town to claim a 56-50 win over the Silver Ferns, but it was an incident in the fourth quarter that had players and commentators in disbelief.

Watch the 2023 Quad Series, Live & Free or catch up with Kayo Minis. Join now and start streaming instantly >

As New Zealand captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio nailed a goal, her teammate Grace Nweke and Diamonds defender Courtney Bruce tangled off the ball in a scuffle that saw them both fall to the court sprawling.

But, distracted by the argy bargy, umpire Anso Kemp said she didn’t see the goal, even though she started to signal it had gone in.

Fellow umpire Gary Burgess said he missed the goal as well because he was watching downcourt instead.

Umpire Anso Kemp explains the goal was not seen, therefore it did not count.

The two umpires conferred and decided that because neither of them had watched the ball go in the hoop with their own eyes and without access to a VAR-style replay system, Ekenasio’s goal couldn’t count.

In bizarre scenes out of a basketball game, the umpires decided to have a toss up, which is rarely ever seen in netball.

The full incident from go to wtf?! #QuadSeriespic.twitter.com/ru7YIn6SqV

— Rachel (@rgell1) January 25, 2023

Net, set, TOSS-UP!

EXTRAORDINARY scenes. #QuadSeries

— Jessica Currie (@Jess_M_Currie) January 25, 2023

Commentator Jenny Woods said: “How is it you have a situation where neither umpire sees whether or not the goal is scored. It’s extraordinary.

“This is nuts! We have proof of the goal being scored.

“Surely they could have gone to the bench!

“We have seen everything now in this game.”

Courtney Bruce was just as confused as us. Photo: Fox Sports.

Any danger of a video replay? (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Australian legend Cath Cox was left stunned by the umpiring controversy.

“I cannot believe my eyes!” she said on Fox Netball

“We’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Wow, wow, wow.

“I haven’t seen that happen in any game I can remember.”

Remarkably, Kemp told Burgess the goal “wasn’t scored” so he declared it should be a “throw in Australia”.

“I don’t know what to suggest if I’m honest,” Burgess said in words you never hear out of a sporting official’s mouth.”

The incident overshadowed an excellent comeback by the Diamonds after they conceded 19 goals in the first quarter.

Australia celebrate their Quad Series win. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The Diamonds stuck with their starting seven for the entire game, while New Zealand waited until the last quarter to make substitutions.

Nweke was one of New Zealand’s best with 39 goals at 87 per cent accuracy, while Australian goal attack Steph Wood once again put on a clinic in the front third alongside Cara Koenen.

Veteran wing defence Ash Brazill, recalled into Australia’s squad after missing the second half of last year, staked her claim for a spot at the World Cup with several intercepts and deflections.

The victory sealed Australia’s seventh Quad Series title and is a welcome confidence boost for the Diamonds ahead of the Netball World Cup in South Africa in July.

The World Cup, held by New Zealand, is the only major trophy missing from Australia’s cabinet after a successful 2022.

Watch Quad Series final replay on Kayo Freebies or catch the highlights on the Kayo Mini.