Diamonds go down again as Ferns take control of Constellation Cup

Thanks for keeping us company on a Wednesday night during the second game of the Constellation Cup. We’ll update the top of the article with some analysis and the coach’s thoughts in the press conferences in due course. See you again for our next live blog on Sunday in Sydney!

Eeekk. That gain stat is terrible. Nine gains for New Zealand, none for the Aussies. Across 60 minutes? Wow. Defensively it did feel like the visitors upped their work rate to slow the Silver Ferns down in attack later in the game but it clearly wasn’t enough to get a clean steal. The penalty count is also very lopsided. Eighty-two in total to New Zealand’s 50. That is a huge difference.

Australia’s centre pass to goal stat slipped into the 70 percentile by the end of the game. We also see the Silver Ferns scored six of the last 10 goals, showing how hard they came home to finish it off and pull the lead away.

What a phenomenal game from the hosts. An amazing performance from Toeava too, who bolted from outside the game squad into the starting line-up at WA. It was very noticeable when she wasn’t on court in the third quarter.

And how’s that home crowd advantage, hey? That’s the Silver Ferns 12th consecutive victory on home soil against the Diamonds. They have been phenomenal on the New Zealand leg of the tour. This game started closer than Sunday’s in Auckland but really blew out at the end. Aussies were able to stage a comeback earlier, in the third quarter rather than the last. But they were way off the pace by the end.

Fox Netball says head coach Stacey Marinkovich only has an eight per cent winning rate across the ditch … But she has a better record on Australian soil and the next two games will be held in Sydney and Melbourne, so it’ll be fascinating to see what happens from here and if the Ferns can back up this success.

Amelia Walmsley is on with a minute and a half left in the game. Giving Nweke a rest.

Oh no! Wallam misses a penalty shot right underneath the net and once again New Zealand make the Diamonds pay. With two minutes to go, this game is well and truly the Silver Ferns. Another huge margin too.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 60-48

A shove in the back of Jackson is costly. The Silver Ferns convert through Selby-Rickit who is winding back the clock. Shooting from distance, she hasn’t played for her country for a few years but has been a good option off the bench in this series. She’s revived her game after a season playing as an import for the Queensland Firebirds in Super Netball.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 58-47

Klau re-enters the game at GK midway through the fourth quarter. This is the third goal keeper Australia has trialled against Nweke in this game.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 56-46

Oh no, the umpires are definitely looking for this now. Wallam also gets caught for pushing off the body of Jackson.

DONNELL WALLAM is on! I repeat! Donnell is on court!

She hasn’t played a game since 2024 but Australia’s third Indigenous Diamond scores her first attempt at goal and there’s a cheer from the crowd. When Donnell left the Queensland Firebirds under difficult circumstances at the end of 2024 she headed across the ditch to play for the Mystics, so she’s got a lot of fans over there. Of course she’s since signed back in Australia with the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Super Netball. Garbin heads to the bench.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 51-44

Garbin is again sprung for pushing off Jackson and the Silver Ferns make it count.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 50-43

Bruce sends a bullet pass from the middle third into Garbin and it rockets over the back line. Way too much on that and it gifts the Silver Ferns another goal.

SCORE: New Zealand 48-43

Te Paea Selby-Rickit enters the court at GA, Toeava is back at WA and Gordon resumes the centre bib for New Zealand. Interesting move. What we can take from this is the Silver Ferns recognised they needed to go back to their starting midcourt but were still happy to give a bench player a run alongside Nweke in the circle. They’re ticking two boxes, trying to ensure they win the game and build for the 2027 World Cup.

New Zealand may have been in front at every break of this game but the screws are turning! Momentum is with the Aussies who really upped their hands-over pressure on every Silver Ferns pass in those final five minutes. They forced the Kiwi side back in attack and slowed them up on the transverse line, making them work harder to push into the goal third. The visitors claim the quarter 16-12. Will be interesting to see if coach Taurua quickly changes her midcourt back. They’ve been less potent since making changes.

Grenvold put the pressure on Nweke, she didn’t take a feed into the circle cleanly and the ball was loose, Kate Heffernan tried to pick it up from the edge of the circle, but stepped in and conceded possession. That’s brilliant work confusing the space by Grenvold! Australia convert the opportunity.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 44-42

The Silver Ferns goal attack fumbles the ball and Australia makes the mistake count with two and a half minutes on the clock.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 44-40

Georgia Heffernan was under pressure to take the first phase of the centre pass and Bruce came through and cleaned up a bad pass just over the transverse line in the middle third. Australia edge one back on the scoreboard.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 41-35

Liz Watson is warned by the umpire at the top of New Zealand’s circle and it forces a change to the line-up. Australia don’t want to end up being down a player with a two minute suspension. Moloney takes the centre bib, Parmenter comes into WD and Watson is benched,

Grenvold rolls back onto court at GK, Bruce moves to GD and the newest Diamond has an immediate impact. Heffernan misses a shot at goal and Grenvold holds her spot on the other side of the post, beating Nweke to the ball.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 38-28

The Aussie shooters are stretched wide as Burger cuts off a pass into them underneath the post and the Silver Ferns convert.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 38-27

A ball to Watson in the far pocket was overcooked by Garrett but the captain managed to keep it in play, there was a scramble for loose ball down low and New Zealand comes up with it as Austin is pinged for an offensive contact.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 36-27

Up by seven goals, New Zealand has taken the opportunity to make some changes in the midcourt for the third quarter. Reuelu-Buchanan rolls on in WD, Kate Heffernan takes the centre bib and Gordon moves into WA as Toeava heads to the bench.

Australia is struggling defensively. They’ve trialled four different defenders in the circle now and are still 4-0 down on the gain stat. The penalty count is pretty crazy too. It’s important to keep that pressure on the opposition but the Diamonds are going to have to find a way to clean this up. 19 more penalties is 19 more times they’re standing beside their player and unable to make an impact in the contest.

You can see New Zealand have been more clinical because they’re close to 100 per cent at scoring their own centre pass. Australia is not far off the pace but without any gains so far to help claw the score back that conversion stat becomes super important. Outlined by the Diamonds’ biggest streak of 8 goals compared to the Kiwis 31 goals.

For a second straight quarter, Kiera Austin scores a penalty shot on the whistle. That kind of composure under pressure will go a long way to helping the Diamonds turn this around if they’re going to. This scoreline is a lot better than it was at the main break on Sunday when we were already down by 10 goals (32 – 22) but it’s still not great! Credit to New Zealand, they are humming away in attack beautifully.

Nweke was challenged by both Bruce and Garrett in that last passage of play with 15 seconds on the clock but managed to hold onto possession. They’re doing a good job at TRYING to prevent her from setting up in the circle and dictating space but she’s too strong and powerful.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 33-25

We’ll take a look at the numbers at half-time, but plenty of players have hit the deck already. Bodies are banging into each other, hands and arms are getting caught up. It’s been an entertaining clash. Remember netball is no longer classed as a contact sport, it’s now referred to as “controlled contact”.

Toeava winds the ball up from the transverse line and sends it in high and long to Nweke for a Silver Ferns goal.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 31-23

Matilda Garrett gets her first bit of game time, rolling on at GD to replace Klau with about six minutes left to go in the second quarter.

A couple of big cross-court balls from Watson and Horjus were picked off by New Zealand but they lost them in transition.

Then Jackson‘s long arm forces Austin to step back on her shot, she misses, Burger jumps on the rebound and the Kiwis convert another Australian centre pass.

SCORE: New Zealand 27-20

Australia sent the ball out to the edge of the circle multiple times before Austin missed a shot and Jackson gobbled it up. The Kiwi shooters reward the defenders’ efforts.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 21-16

Courtney Bruce is on to start the second quarter in her usual GK bib. Grenvold off. Everyone else as they were for the Australians.

No changes for New Zealand.

Completely agree Sonja! Our accuracy is better too. New Zealand still in front in that department at 100 per cent for Nweke and Heffernan. But at least we’re sitting in the high 80s! Keeping the ball away from those  Silver Ferns defenders.

It’s an improved scoreline for the first break than the 15-10 lead the Silver Ferns had in Game 1 but so far the hosts are still looking the more sleek and polished side.

With 45 seconds on the clock, Moloney comes in for a challenge late on Heffernan in the middle third. Heffernan hits the deck and Moloney loses her footing. It’s Australia’s 19th contact for the quarter. That’s quite high!

Two minutes left in the quarter. Garbin misses a shot at goal from right underneath the post but recovers. First to the rebound and gets it on the second attempt.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 14-11

Watson tried to take a pass on the far sideline in Australia’s goal third but landed with a foot out of court. It gives the Silver Ferns an extra opportunity and although they had to work really hard in transition this time, with Australia’s defence upping its workrate, Nweke ends up adding another to their tally.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 12-9

Grenvold was first to ball, getting a touch on it as both players went up in the air, but Nweke was able to pull it in with two hands and converts for the Silver Ferns.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 8-6

Pushing off the body of Jackson, the Australian goal shooter draws the eye of the umpire and New Zealand break the centre pass for the first time in this game.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 5-4

Bad hands from Nweke! Toeava sent in long feed way off circle edge and it bounced out of the goal shooter’s hands. Great work hedging off the body of the target by Grenvold. She’s confusing the space and putting pressure on Nweke. Here’s an opportunity for Australia.

Alas, as they head up the other end Heffernan intercepts a pass from Watson in the goal third and we see a very quick transition from the Silver Ferns. That was a strength about their game on Sunday. The hosts recover to score their centre pass.

SCORE: Level 3-all

Nweke answers at the other end for the Kiwis.

SCORE: Level 1-all

Australia had the first crack at goal. Austin scores a penalty shot and the visitors are up.

SCORE: Australia lead 1-0

Warm-ups done. Anthems done. Huddles done.

Let’s get this party started in Christchurch!

AUSTRALIA

Oh my goodness. Four changes to Australia’s starting list. After a solid 30 minutes to finish Game 1 it makes sense that Sophie Garbin would be rewarded with the GS bib. Take a look at that back line though … Without Jamie-Lee Price available, they’ve slotted Kate Moloney into wing defence. Sarah Klau and new Diamond Jessie Grenvold have been propelled into the starting line-up too, taking the spots of Matilda Garrett and Courtney Bruce. That’s a huge opportunity for Grenvold in just her second Test. They finished the match together on Sunday. I don’t think I’m alone in worrying about this midcourt again. As we’ve mentioned, Liz Watson didn’t have her best outing in Auckland so let’s see if she can improve with another run at centre tonight.

GS – Sophie Garbin

GA – Kiera Austin

WA – Georgie Horjus

C – Liz Watson

WD – Kate Moloney

GD – Sarah Klau

GK – Jessie Grenvold

SUBS: Courtney Bruce, Sophie Dwyer, Matilda Garrett, Amy Parmenter, Donnell Wallam

NEW ZEALAND

Wow. The Silver Ferns also being brave, listing Peta Toeava at wing attack. Outside the game-day team one day, in a starting position the next. Most sides would stick to the winning combination that did so well in that first outing. Instead they’re not afraid to mix it up. That’s a confident move.

GS – Grace Nweke

GA – Georgia Heffernan

WA – Peta Toeava

C – Maddy Gordon

WD – Kate Heffernan

GD – Karin Burger

GK – Kelly Jackson

SUBS: Parris Mason, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Ta Paea Selby-Rickit, Carys Stythe, Amelia Walmsley

AUSTRALIA

The good news for Diamonds fans is that vice-captain Kate Moloney returns to the line-up after recovering from the finger laceration that kept her out of Game 1. Without Moloney in the team, there was a midcourt shuffle. Captain Liz Watson filled her spot at centre and Georgie Horjus was given the wing attack bib. They lacked punch up the middle and Watson ended the game on the bench. It wasn’t ideal.

Many — including us — thought Jamie-Lee Price would have been a better choice to start at centre. Price had a cracking Super Netball season in that position with the Melbourne Mavericks. The bad news is, she’s unavailable tonight with a calf injury.

The other change is goal shooter Donnell Wallam replaces Cara Koenen in the team. Wallam has never played against New Zealand before and last played for the Diamonds at the 2024 Nations Cup. Last year she was only an invitee at camp and missed out on a national contract, so this is a huge boost for her career! Wallam is the tallest shooting option for Australia at 193cm tall and definitely has the X-Factor. With a basketball background, she has a unique playing style. Koenen was shaky throughout the Constellation Cup opener and finished with 77 per cent accuracy, so it make sense to try something different.

NEW ZEALAND

Just one change for the Silver Ferns. Head coach Noeline Taurua has omitted Kimiora Poi (30+ caps) and added Peta Toeava (15 caps). It’s a bold choice, as Poi was part of the team’s gold-medal-winning Commonwealth Games team. She started in wing attack in Game 1 and played 38 minutes but Taurua has also spoken about trying to find the balance throughout this series of giving opportunity to less experienced players in preparation for next year’s World Cup and winning each game. Toeava has a brilliant connection with Grace Nweke that developed during their time playing at the Northern Mystics. Giving that connection more time to build at an international level could be beneficial down the track.

Head coach Stacey Marinkovich is hoping for a better start from her team in game two, after Australia fell behind by as many as 15 goals in Auckland and only managed to claw the scoreboard back to 56-50 in the final quarter once the opposition brought on their bench players.

The biggest area they struggled was in the goal circle. Whether it was feeding the shooters or going for goal, the Silver Ferns were continuously able to steal ball and intimidate using their long arms over the shot. Marinkovich trialled almost every shooting option she had except running Georgie Horjus at GA. The pocket rocket remained at WA for the entire match.  Sophie Garbin lifted Australia’s accuracy when she came on after the half-time break, landing 20 of her 21 attempts.

Meanwhile, defender Jessie Grenvold impressed on debut, becoming Diamond #198 when she was injected in the second quarter and topped the gain stat for her team with once intercept, four deflections and one pickup across 43 minutes of playing time. You can read more about the game at the link below.

A reminder that Australia hasn’t won a Test on New Zealand soil for five years. There is a serious home crowd advantage in this series, with both sides struggling to get over the line in opposition territory. Seeing as they play at different venues for each Test, it really speaks to power fans have while cheering for their team!

Hiya! Thanks for tuning into ABC Sport’s live coverage of the Constellation Cup. Brittany Carter here for game two, which is expected to start with the first centre pass at 5:40pm AEDT. How nice to have some mid-week netty! Here is the state of play in case you missed the result on Sunday night. The series will be decided by goal aggregate if it is tied 2-all after the four Tests.

SCHEDULE

Game 1: Sunday 18 October, 5:40pm AEDT — Auckland

New Zealand won 56-50

Game 2: Wednesday 21 October, 5:40pm AEDT —  Christchurch

Game 3: Sunday 25 October, 4:00pm AEDT — Sydney

Game 4: Wednesday 28 October, 7:30pm AEDT — Melbourne