Australia Dominates Silver Ferns 68-51 in Constellation Cup Match

The Australia Diamonds secured a commanding victory over the New Zealand Silver Ferns, winning 68-51 in Sydney. This match marked the second encounter in the Constellation Cup series, with Australia now leading the series 2-0 as it heads to New Zealand.

The Silver Ferns displayed resilience at the start, trailing by just two goals at half-time, but a significant third quarter collapse saw them fall behind by 14 points by the end of the third quarter. This unraveling echoed their performance from the first Test, where they lost 69-52, highlighting ongoing struggles in critical moments of the game.

Both teams fielded the same line-ups as in the initial Test. Early in the match, the Diamonds capitalized on defensive pressure, forcing two held balls, including New Zealand’s first goal attempt by Martina Salmon. The Silver Ferns encountered difficulties advancing the ball, and Salmon’s offloads to Grace Nweke lacked precision, allowing the Diamonds’ defenders to effectively respond. Consequently, Australia led 19-13 at the end of the first quarter.

In an effort to revitalize the Silver Ferns’ attack, interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie substituted Salmon for Georgia Heffernan at goal attack. Heffernan’s presence provided greater structure, enabling wing attack Mila Reuelu-Buchanan to initiate longer passes to Nweke. The Silver Ferns adjusted their strategy to employ a zone defence in the second quarter, managing to slow down the Diamonds momentarily. Goalkeeper Kelly Jackson intercepted a critical shooter-to-shooter pass, helping to force a held ball against the Diamonds.

Despite some missed shots by Nweke, who faced intense double-teaming from the Australian defence, the Silver Ferns managed to win the second quarter 30-28, matching the scoreline from the first Test.

As the match resumed after the half-time break, Parris Mason entered as goal defence, shifting Burger to wing defence. Shortly thereafter, McCausland-Durie opted to return Burger to her original position to counter the impact of Georgie Horjus, who replaced Kiera Austin at goal attack for the Diamonds.

The Silver Ferns applied excessive pressure on Nweke, resulting in her being off-balance during crucial moments. The Diamonds took advantage of this, overwhelming the Silver Ferns in the third quarter with a decisive 21-9 score, extending their lead to 51-37 heading into the final quarter.

In the last quarter, Peta Toeava was introduced at wing attack, and Catherine Hall stepped in as goalkeeper, allowing Jackson to rest. Toeava immediately made an impact, facilitating quick passes to Nweke. Although the Silver Ferns began to chip away at the Diamonds’ lead, Australia quickly adjusted to the introduction of Sarah Klau at goalkeeper and Cara Koenen at goal shoot.

As the match drew to a close, the Silver Ferns continued to struggle with their execution. The remaining minutes saw Reuelu-Buchanan return to the court, but the Diamonds maintained their composure to secure the victory.

The next two Tests in the Constellation Cup are set to take place in New Zealand, with the third match scheduled for March 10, 2024, in Hamilton. This series remains a critical test for the Silver Ferns as they seek to bounce back from their recent defeats.