Wasteful Roses rocked as Diamonds fight back from 9-goal deficit to steal victory

Australia has overcome a bizarre pre-game anthem bungle and shock second half nine-goal deficit to beat a wasteful England 61-55.

Australia has overcome a bizarre pre-game anthem bungle and shock second half nine-goal deficit to beat a wasteful England 61-55 in the Quad Series in Cape Town.

The Diamonds looked off from the first whistle and managed just six goals in the opening 10 minutes as England star shooter Eleanor Cardwell (39/42 at 93%) took advantage.

But a third quarter blitz rocked the Roses as Australia piled on 11-straight goals – and 14 of the last 15 goals of the quarter to take control.

Watch the 2023 Quad Series, Jan 22 Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >

And from that point, the Diamonds never looked back.

Fox Netball’s Madison Browne described England’s second half collapse as “deflating”, as Roses coach Jess Thirlby was forced to ring the changes – with only Laura Malcolm not getting on the court.

“If you don’t take those opportunities when you’ve worked so hard in defence, it really is deflating,” she said.

“England had their opportunities today.

“The Diamonds weren’t as dominant as we would have thought.”

“At times they just gave the ball to the Australian Diamonds,” commentator Caroline Barker added.

Even Diamonds captain Liz Watson conceded it was a “messy” match to open their 2023 account.

“You’ve got to take those wins when you can,” she said.

“I think we had momentum but not consistently.

“There’s lots and lots to work on for tomorrow (against New Zealand).”

Both England and Australia headed into the match weakened with Jo Harten and Geva Mentor missing for the Roses and Jo Weston and Ash Brazill out for the Diamonds.

But it was England who settled first as Australian players appeared still distracted by a bizarre pre-game anthem mix up, where the rarely remembered second verse was sung.

The Australian team were left confused by the second verse of the anthem.

Goal attack Steph Wood didn’t put up a shot in the opening eight minutes as she coughed ball up trying to dish off to Sophie Garbin instead of rocking back mid range.

Roses defenders Funmi Fadoju and Layla Guscoth were all over the Aussie shooters in a brilliant start, as England opened up a stunning nine-goal lead at the 10-minute mark.

“Proper irritating that defensive end from England,” commentator Caroline Barker said.

When Wood’s second shot dropped short, Garbin was able to mop up before Jamie-Lee Price won the first ball back for Australia late in the opening quarter.

“The defence has been flat footed and the connection is just not happening freely in that attack end,” Fox Netball’s Madison Browne said.

The Diamonds were able to fight back with four of the last six goals to finish 18-14 down as coach Stacey Marinkovich resisted any changes.

Player of the match Courtney Bruce worked her way into the contest in the second quarter as Australia started to close the gap.

The Diamonds surge saw England coach Jess Thirlby turn to her bench and inject Alice Harvey at goal keeper, pushing Fadoju to GD and Guscoth to WD.

Sunday Aryang and Eleanor Cardwell. Picture: Grant Pitcher

And the trio had an immediate impact, winning back ball.

It took a last minute deflection from Guscoth to keep England’s lead intact at half time, 32-21.

The Roses started the third like they did the first, quickly opening up a six-goal lead when Fadoju got her hands on plenty of ball.

Wood headed to the bench in Marinkovich’s second change, after Sarah Klau was brought on as GK late in the second. And slowly the Diamonds crept back into the match.

A big rebound from Klau and a hard fought get by Bruce saw Australia draw level once again with more than four minutes to go in the third.

“This is dangerous for England,” Barker warned.

“They’re just missing the clutch moments.”

A second held ball on Allison for the quarter gifted the Diamonds the lead as frustration started to creep in for England.

It forced Thirlby to turn to her bench once again with Metcalf replaced by Chelsea Pitman and Fran Williams coming on in GD.

But again England coughed up ball with Cardwell pleading for an umpire’s call that never came.

“It’s a passionate response from Cardwell. But she’s got to stay calm, she’s got to stay composed,” Browne said.

With Kiera Austin on in GA, the goal circle just opened up for the Diamonds late in the third as they scored a whopping 11-straight goals.

Incredibly, Australia scored 14 of the last 15 goals to turn their deficit into a seven-goal lead heading into the last quarter.

And England just couldn’t treasure possession in the final term, despite winning back plenty of ball.

The Roses won the final quarter 14-13 but were disappointed by the result.

“There’s parts of that game they’ll be rapt with and parts they won’t,” Fox Netball’s Catherine Cox said.

“Maybe England need to go back and look how they counteract that (Diamonds’ run in the third).

“Someone has to recognise that.

“You can’t let it go to 11 goals in a row before you make some sort of change out there – it’s all too late.”

Garbin finished the pick of the shooters with 46/51 at 90%. Austin finished her quarter and a bit with seven goals at 78%.

Australia will now take on New Zealand in their second game of the Quad Series, with fitness concerns over Courtney Bruce, who limped from the court in the final term.

STARTING SEVEN

Australia: GS Sophie Garbin, GA Steph Wood, WA Liz Watson, C Paige Hadley, WD Jamie-Lee Price, GD Sunday Aryang, GK Courtney Bruce

England: GS Eleanor Cardwell, GA Helen Housby, WA Natalie Metcalf, C Jade Clarke, WD Imogen Allison, GD Layla Guscoth, GK Funmi Fadoju

FERNS FIRE FIRST SHOT IN QUAD SERIES

The Silver Ferns have started their Quad Series campaign with a bang against host nation South Africa, claiming a 20-goal victory.

It was a brilliant 20-5 goal third quarter that tore the game apart, after the Proteas managed to stay in touch in the first half.

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua was able to clear her bench and get all players on court for at least half a match and claim a big win in the perfect start.

The Silver Ferns were off to a great start as the Proteas struggled to cross the transverse.

With a 6-2 advantage early before the Proteas could adjust to the pace of the game, the home side did settle and found avenues to goal.

New Zealand’s Kelly Jury was again a standout in defence with three intercepts in the first half as her reach continued to trouble both shooters Lenize Potgieter and Nicholle Taljaard.

Down the other end, it was Grace Nweke standing tall with 20/21 to the half time break.

“If you can find a defender that’s 6 foot 8, that would be helpful,” Proteas coach Norma Plummer said when asked about Nweke’s influence.

“Pum’s (Maweni) is the best we’ve got in that position.

“The work has to be done down the front so we eliminate every ball going into her.”

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua made wholesale changes for the second half, clearing her bench with Watson and Burger introduced while Sulu Fitzpatrick, Peta Toeava and Maia Wilson (8/12) came on.

And the changes paid off as New Zealand went on a stunning 20-5 goal quarter to break the game apart.

Nicholle Taljaard left the court with five minutes to go in the third with a wrist injury, but by the third quarter it was New Zealand up by 20 goals.

The Proteas went goal for goal with the Silver Ferns in the final quarter, but had no answers for the dominance of Nweke (43/45 at 96%).

In the end it was New Zealand taking victory 61-41.

STARTING SEVEN

South Africa: GS Lenize Potgieter, GA Nichole Taljaard, WA Bongiwe Msomi, C Khanyisa Chawane, WD Shadine van der Merwe, GD Karla Pretorius, GK Phumza Maweni

New Zealand: GS Grace Nweke, GA Ameliaranne Ekenasio, WA Gina Crampton, C Whitney Souness, WD Kate Heffernan, GD Phoenix Karaka, GK Kelly Jury

Originally published as Wasteful Roses rocked as Diamonds fight back from 9-goal deficit to steal victory