Faced with a must-win scenario, the Silver Ferns kept the Constellation Cup series alive after posting a gritty 56-53 win over the Australian Diamonds in Invercargill.
With the stadium re-named the Robyn Broughton Stadium for the occasion, the Silver Ferns and Southland community embraced the opportunity to honour the memory and legacy of the legendary coach who passed away in September.
In a fitting tribute, the sold-out crowd and Silver Ferns put their full energies into paying tribute to Broughton, a much-admired local figure, who carved out a unique record at the helm of the Southern Sting and Steel teams for many years while crowning Invercargill as the stronghold of national netball at the time.
Down 2-0 in the four-match series, twin towers at either end of the Silver Ferns court, shooter Grace Nweke, playing 45 minutes in her continuing comeback from injury, and goalkeeper Kelly Jury were key contributors for the home side.
With little separating the teams statistically, Nweke with 34 goals from 36 attempts, ably backed up by Amelia Walmsley with eight from 10, and Jury’s ability to create pressure while getting the Silver Ferns more defensive gains – two intercepts and nine deflections – effectively proved the difference.
Both sides made multiple personnel and positional changes while trying to break the impasse, each producing two dominant quarters apiece in showcasing another classic chapter in the long-running trans-Tasman rivalry.
“I’m really proud and really stoked with the girls. It was a hard-fought win,” Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio said.
“We felt the emotion leading into the game, and a really big thing for us, is how do we connect with the people who have built the path before us, and that was huge to do this in remembrance of Robbie (Broughton).
“Also just to be back on home soil was a massive lift for us.”
Making an encouraging comeback from injury in the previous test and with two quarters safely negotiated during that match, inspiring shooter Nweke got her first start of the series while Phoenix Karaka got the nod at goal defence in the only two changes to the Silver Ferns starting line.
The Diamonds remained unchanged with impressive young rangy wing defence Sunday Aryang getting her second start of the series.
Making an impression defensively, the Silver Ferns made the brightest of starts, the back three of Kate Heffernan, on her home court, Karaka and Jury slowing Australia’s attacking progress while getting their hands on turnover opportunities.
After forging a four-goal lead, the Silver Ferns could not maintain the impetus. Finding their rhythm while strangling the Silver Ferns in the midcourt, Australia pounced to produce a seven-goal unanswered streak to retake the lead and a 14-10 lead into the first break.
Introduced late in the first quarter, wing attack Whitney Souness, earning her first game-time of the series, made a serious impact with her quick play and foot movement, creating spaces at the front end of the court and adding spark to the Silver Ferns first phase play.
At the other end, Jury’s long lean and ability to disrupt Australia’s shooting momentum turned the tide New Zealand’s way. With Tiana Metuarau taking over at goal attack, the Silver Ferns lifted their intensity levels with a frantic but productive second quarter burst.
Able to knock the Diamonds off their stride resulted in shooter Sophie Garbin being introduced under the hoop and Sarah Klau at goal defence. Missed shots did not help Australia’s cause, the Silver Ferns getting more ball in their hands, nine goals on the trot helping the women in black regain the lead.
Out-scoring the Diamonds 18-10, the Silver Ferns headed to the main break with their noses in front when leading 28-24.
Both sides made multiple changes through a pulsating third quarter, the Diamonds, where centre Jamie-Lee Price and captain Liz Watson took charge on attack, backed up by a run of five goals hauling the visitors back into the lead.
The lively defensive pairing of Karin Burger and Jury helped spur the Silver Ferns back into the contest while Ekenasio and Amelia Walmsley teamed up under the Silver Ferns hoop.
A resilient Australia retained their composure with Garbin providing the shooting accuracy, the Diamonds reversing the trend of the previous quarter to hold a narrow 40-37 lead at the last break but leaving the contest still wide open.
The final match of the Constellation Cup will be played in Auckland, on Monday (4pm, NZT).
Game two report
Trailing 2-0 in the four-Test series, the Silver Ferns turn their attention to home court advantage after losing 55-46 to Australia in the second Constellation Cup match in Brisbane.
Following on the heels of Thursday’s 10-goal loss, the Silver Ferns welcomed back influential shooter Grace Nweke for her first game time since sustaining a knee injury at the Netball World Cup.
Still on restricted minutes, Nweke featured in the second and fourth quarters, coincidentally the Silver Ferns best of the match, with both being drawn.
The first and third quarters demonstrated the Silver Ferns youthfulness and the building blocks that are still taking time to establish as new combinations and structures are evolving.
Coach Dame Noeline Taurua tried a variety of personnel and combinations with improvement coming slowly but surely.
”We reduced the margin by a goal but we’ve got heaps more to give and we’re really looking forward to getting back to New Zealand,” Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio said.
”Australia have really shown how good they are. They’re all class but we have to step up, we have to be able to take it to them. We’ve got two games left, so the series is far from over but we have to hit them right from the start of a match and not leave it until later in the game.”
Both sides made just one change apiece to their starting line-ups of the first test with Karin Burger getting the nod at goal defence for the Silver Ferns and Sunday Aryang slotting in at wing defence for the Diamonds.
Controlled and patient, the Silver Ferns got away to a solid start to stay on level terms with the Diamonds. Rookie shooter Amelia Walmsley was in good touch under the hoop, converting all nine of her first quarter opportunities but untimely lapses from the Silver Ferns handed the early momentum to the hosts.
In a bid to stall Australia’s slick speed on attack, Jane Watson was introduced at goalkeeper late in the stanza. With the Diamonds gaining the upper hand at both ends, a late rally from the Silver Ferns kept them in contact when Australia took a 16-11 lead into the first break.
Nweke made a welcome entrance on the resumption, the presence of the 1.93m shooter having an immediate impact on the Silver Ferns attack line. Scoring her first goal within 30 seconds of her first game back since early in the Netball World Cup, rejuvenated the Silver Ferns and produced an uplifting second stanza.
Nweke’s physical presence under the hoop added cohesion to the Silver Ferns attack line with Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Maddy Gordon firing precision passes into the tall shooter’s hands. With Burger and Watson hunting relentlessly at the other end, the Silver Ferns created turnover opportunities to close the gap to three.
However, they wasted several opportunities and with Diamonds goal shoot Cara Koenen continuing her impressive form of the first test, Australia wrested back the initiative to complete a drawn second quarter when maintaining a 28-23 lead at halftime.
Walmsley returned for the third quarter, an abrasive and physical 15 minutes, coinciding with the Diamonds turning up the heat across all thirds of the court.
Burger and Watson were busy on defence but the speed of ball from captain Liz Watson and ever-present shooter Koenen ensured the Diamonds delivered a master class in unpicking the Silver Ferns defence line.
At the other end, Australia’s in-circle defenders squeezed the Silver Ferns shooters with their relentless hustle and suffocating presence in helping to stretch the home side’s lead.
Tiana Metuarau took over from Ekenasio under the Silver Ferns’ hoop, Australia enjoying all the momentum when heading to the last turn with a handy 41-32 lead.
The second leg of the Constellation Cup now heads to New Zealand with the third Test being played in Invercargill on Thursday night.
