Constellation Cup: Diamonds demolish New Zealand after slow start

The Australian Diamonds clicked into gear in the second quarter to take the opening match against New Zealand.

Gretel Tippett was perfect shooting for goal in the second-half. Picture: AAP

The Australian Diamonds have recovered from a slow start to beat New Zealand’s Silver Ferns 57-42 in Brisbane in the first of netball’s four-game Constellation Cup series.

The Diamonds struggled early but a six-goal burst in the second quarter secured them a comfortable win, their eighth straight over the Silver Ferns.

In a match where all 12 Diamonds got on the court, skipper Caitlin Bassett and goal attack Steph Wood played the first half before Caitlin Thwaites and Gretel Tippett took the court after the long break.

Bassett scored 17 from 21 shots and Wood seven from 11, while Thwaites and Tippett were perfect from 21 and 12 shots respectively.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander’s side were a little fortunate to be level at 10-all after an error-strewn first quarter but steadied.

“We were a little bit stunned I think but we worked our way back into it which was terrific,” Alexander said.

“It was quite an outlier of a quarter. To change it up at quarter-time and really put the foot down and play some good netball in that second quarter was pleasing.

Veteran New Zealand centre Laura Langman bemoaned their inability to put a full game together.

“We said right from the outset we wanted consistent performances and we definitely didn’t do that today,” Langman said.

The teams will meet again in Townsville on Wednesday.

AAP