Diamonds avenge shock Commonwealth Games loss

Australia have overcome some shaky first and last quarter periods to defeat England.

Australia’s goal attack Gretel Tippett holds off the England defence. Picture: Getty Images

Australia have overcome some shaky first and last quarter periods to avenge their Commonwealth Games netball final loss to England with a 52-47 win over the Roses last night.

Trailing 14-9 late in the first quarter of their Quad Series game in Newcastle, Australia outscored England 15-10 in each of the two middle terms to take control of the match.

They had a seven goal third quarter buffer slashed to two inside the last four minutes, but steadied down the stretch.

Australia are the only one of the four teams to win two out of two and will clinch the series with a win over New Zealand in the final round in Melbourne on Sunday. Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander made one change to her starting seven, with Kelsey Brown, who made her debut off the bench in the previous game, starting at wing attack in place of Liz Watson.

Veterans Serena Guthrie and Geva Mentor won England plenty of ball in the first quarter, as the Roses got five of the six intercepts in the period, three of them claimed by goalkeeper Mentor.

The Roses bolted to a five -goal advantage, before Australia scored the last two of the quarter.

Alexander made a change in the second quarter, replacing Kim Ravaillion at centre with Watson.

The switch paid off, with Australian captain Caitlin Bassett seeing a lot more ball.

After having just six attempts in the first quarter Bassett made all 11 of her shots in the second, in which player of the match Watson racked up nine of her 21 assists.

A run of five straight goals pushed the Diamonds into a lead of three and though England got back on level terms, Stephanie Wood notched the last two goals of the quarter to give Australia a 26-24 halftime lead.

Bassett finished with 37 out of 40 for the match, while Helen Housby led England’s scoring with 29 from 35.

AAP