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Posted: 2024-10-30 05:14:30

A relentless defensive performance by Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang has been the foundation for the Diamonds' pride-restoring 13-goal victory over New Zealand.

Coming into the fourth game of the Constellation Cup with the series already lost, the world number one team produced their best netball to avoid being swept by the Silver Ferns for the first time in their history.

The 63-50 victory in Melbourne ends a disappointing series on a positive note, with the Diamonds showing the fight and resilience that had been missing during the previous three matches.

After being dominated by the Silver Fern shooters, Bruce and Aryang were at times impenetrable in the back third as they smothered superstar GS Grace Nweke.

Defence was the key to the Diamonds win, but a shooting accuracy of 95 per cent ensured they punished a wasteful Silver Ferns on the scoreboard. 

Player of the match Kiera Austin typified the Diamonds win, nailing 27 of her 30 shots on goal and tallying a couple of gains, including a vital intercept deep in the fourth quarter to ice the Test.

Kiera Austin of Australia holding the ball above her head as oppoenents jostle for position around her

Kiera Austin was a star in attack and defence for the Diamonds in the fourth Test. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)

Austin had a point to prove after being left out of the game three team.

"It's such a competitive environment and you have so much pressure on yourself individually," Austin to;d Fox Sports after the win.

"But when you just go out and enjoy yourself and play for each other, the results happen."

Regulars Austin and Melbourne Vixens teammate Kate Moloney were the two additions to the Diamonds side for the final Test after being dropped for game three, while New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua started Amelia Walmsley at GS in place of Nweke as her move to the NSW Swifts next season leaves her ineligible for international netball.

Walmsley had a mixed opening quarter, hitting nine of her 11 shots on goal, but also losing possession twice when Australian GK Courtney Bruce out-positioned her young opponent for the intercepts.

Amelia Walmsley of New Zealand with the ball, crouching, looking to get a shot on goal

Amelia Walmsley started at GS for the Silver Ferns. (AAP: James Ross)

A back-and-forth opening quarter ended at 15-all, with Walmsley getting her shot off just before the quarter-time siren to level the scores.

New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua made changes up front to start the second period, with Nweke entering the game at GS in place of Walmsley.

Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio was replaced at GA by Maia Wilson, as the visitors looked to up the pressure on Australia's defence.

The Diamonds were determined not to let Nweke have her way in game four, smoothing the superstar and forcing four turnovers from wayward passes intended for the New Zealand GS.

This defensive pressure is what gave the Diamonds the lift they needed in their quest to avoid being swept by the Silver Ferns. 

The Diamonds took a 32-26 lead into half-time as they capitalised on the Silver Ferns wayward passing, and a crucial late miss by Wilson which was recovered by Australia. 

Australia put its foot down at the start of the third quarter, with GS Sophie Garbin scoring at will while the Silver Ferns struggled to contain the Diamonds' attack. 

Garbin was perfect from her 29 shots through three quarters as the Diamonds took an 11-goal lead, after having a game-high 12-goal lead midway in the term.

At the other end of the court, GD Sunday Aryang joined her partner Bruce as a major thorn in the Silver Ferns's side. 

Aryang flew from side to side as she made sure every pass from a Silver Fern was challenged, leading to errors and turnovers.

Any hope for the Diamonds cruising to victory was extinguished early in the final term, with the Silver Ferns scoring nine of the first 13 goals, reducing the margin down to six goals with seven and a half minutes to play.

But with the Test up for grabs, the Australian's defensive efforts again proved their salvation. 

Another intercept from Austin halted the Silver Ferns's momentum and ended their hopes of a mammoth comeback.

New Zealand netball coach and captain, Dame Noeline Taurua and Ameliaranne Ekenasio, holding the trophy

New Zealand head coach Noeline Taurua and Ameliaranne Ekenasio hold up the trophy after winning the Constellation Cup series.

Earlier, Jerome Gillbard ended his international career with a stellar performance as the Kelpies defeated the Net Blacks 71-39.

In his final Test for Australia, Gillbard scored the final two goals of the match as the Kelpies saluted a man who gave plenty to Australian men's netball.

The 32-goal win completed a 4-0 clean sweep for the Kelpies over the Net Blacks in the Trans-Tasman Cup.

Catch up on all the the action of game four with the ABC Sport blog.

That's all from us!

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International netball is done for the Diamonds for another year. Thanks to everyone that has followed our coverage of both the Constellation Cup and the men's Trans-Tasman Cup over the past fortnight. It's been fun bringing it to you.

Players are covered in streamers as they huddle together and lift a trophy
The Silver Ferns lift the Constellation Cup for a third time.(Getty)

2024 Constellation Cup

Game 1: Won by the Silver Ferns 64-50 in Wellington

Game 2: Won by the Silver Ferns 63-52 in Auckland

Game 3: Won by the Silver Ferns 61-43 in Perth

Game 4: Won by the Diamonds 63-50 in Melbourne

Players huddle together with their coaches and a trophy
The Kelpies celebrate winning the Trans-Tasman Cup.(Getty)

2024 Trans-Tasman Cup

Game 1: Won by the Kelpies 84-34 in Wellington

Game 2: Won by the Kelpies75-30 in Auckland

Game 3: Won by the Kelpies78-36 in Canberra

Game 4: Won by the Kelpies 71-39 in Melbourne

Congratulations to the Silver Ferns and also the Kelpies!

Catch you next time.

NZ have the final say

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New Zealand head coach Noeline Taurua looked deflated in the post-match press conference, despite having won the Constellation Cup for a third time in 14 series!

It's not the clean sweep they were after but still a great result. They got everyone on court tonight, which could be viewed in both a positive and negative light. They won the final quarter and pushed the Diamonds till the end but maybe there were too many changes ... Something to ponder on reflection as Taurua has been accused of making too many substitutions - especially in the midcourt - in previous series.

A player takes the ball in a spit stance
Silver Ferns captain Ekenasio was disappointed to lose game four.(Getty)

Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio also added her thoughts:

"It's been an interesting time for us, because we've never been in this position before. So it was new territory. As a team we really backed that we wanted to get everybody on court, we all know game-time experience is second to none so that was huge for us ... We didn't express ourselves in the way we wanted to tonight, so that's a bittersweet moment because we didn't take this game but I think we have to give credit to the Aussie team as well, we knew that their backs were against the wall and expected them to come out hard."

Full-time statistics

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The first number that grabs our eye is the general play turnover stat. Six more times the Silver Ferns turned the ball over, showing they were a little less clinical tonight. They were also slightly down on the gain stat and could not get their three-feet right, seeing them pulled up for obstruction seven more times.

Full-time stats
Full-time stats.(AAP)

Interesting here that the Silver Ferns were consistently better at converting their gains and turnovers than the winning Aussies, but their centre pass to goal rate was way down to 68 per cent. Nowhere near good enough for international netty and something they'll likely review upon reflection.

Then again, will they even bother reviewing the series? We'd love to be a fly on the wall in the post-match discussion amongst the kiwi team. They've won the series 3-1 and maybe that's enough for them! It's a pretty big feat considering the kinds of pressure they were under leading into the Constellation Cup.

Full-time stats
Full-time stats.(AAP)

Kiera Austin named POTM

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Player of the Match award goes to Diamonds goal attack Kiera Austin. After 60 minutes, Austin tallied 27 goals at 90 per cent and brought some sharp attacking prowess to the front of the court. After being dropped for the third game it's great to see her return to form in the Diamonds final match of the year.

A player holds the ball on the side of her body and looks up to the post
Kiera Austin dominated in game four.(AAP)

Speaking with Fox Netball, Austin said:

"We had to make sure we enjoyed being out there, it's such a competitive environment, you have so much pressure on yourself individually but when you go just out and play for eachother and enjoy yourselves the results happen. I wish we could have had that conversation a little bit earlier, but it's great to finish in John Cain Arena with this crowd."

FT: Diamonds win by 13 goals

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In the final 15 seconds, Sophie Garbin 36th goal from 36 attempts to finish the match on 100 per cent accuracy. It is the first time in the green and gold that she has played a full 60 minutes without a single miss. What an effort! She was rock solid tonight under the post.

At the other end, summing up the night, Grace Nweke was called for stepping as she tried to take New Zealand's final shot of the game. She may have been the more dominant force throughout the overall Constellation Cup series but she was overruled tonight by a tough defensive unit that were relentless in their pursuit of a win.

As a result, the Aussies have prevented a clean sweep from their old foes. The series finishes 3-1 in the kiwi's favour.

FINAL SCORE: 63-50 Australia's way

NZ attack falling apart

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New Zealand are still struggling to break into the circle, and are having to force some long swings over the top of the pack to find their next pass on the other side of the circle. They've conceded the ball a few times now in their push to post with just a minute left in the game.

SCORE: 61-50 Australia's way

Held ball

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Wonderful defence from the Diamonds sees Maddy Gordon stuck for options and called for held ball with four minutes left.

The full three seconds is up.

NZ shifting momentum

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With five minutes left in the game, the revolving door of changes has worked in the sense that the Silver Ferns have stolen back momentum and are leading the scoring in this final quarter. They're still behind by eight goals on the scoreboard however. Will there be enough time for them to steal back the lead?

SCORE: 57-49 Australia's way

Nweke hits the deck

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Grace Nweke buckled underneath the goals as she took an extremely high and long feed. Everybody in the crowd as well as Silver Ferns assistant and NSW Swifts head coach Briony Akle took a breath. Waiting to see if she was alright. She was unmarked at the time and fell on her own accord. Just got cramped under the post but is up now and continuing to play.

Walmsley back on!

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New Zealand are now running a VERY tall shooting circle. As Walmsley replaces the Silver Ferns captain at goal attack. We haven't seen this combo much - if at all - from memory. Nweke stands at 1.93m tall and Walmsley is 1.92m. Should make the feeding a little easier as both players stand well above the Diamonds defenders.

NZ asking a lot of Nweke

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The kiwi midcourters are throwing in some rank feeds! It doesn't help that Bruce and Aryang are applying the pressure and making them second-guess their passing. But they're asking a lot of their shooting target, she's having to turn herself inside out to take some crazy passes. Would love to see the kiwis be more disciplined and hit circle edge, to make it a little easier.

Bruce rebound

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Ekenasio misses a shot at goal and depsite having her arms tangled up with Nweke, Aussie GK Bruce manages to get one hand to the ball. The Diamonds go full court in transition to hit 50.

SCORE: 50-39 Australia's way

NZ continue to tinker with their line-up

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Gordon re-enters at wing attack, O'Brien heads to the bench. Phoenix Karaka gets on into goal defence, replacing Mason.

Now every single Silver Fern has made it on court in game four. A total 17 changes have been made.

3QT: Australian Diamonds 48 lead New Zealand Silver Ferns 37

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Another great quarter from the Diamonds, outscoring the Silver Ferns by five goals in what we like to call in netball: "The Championship Quarter".

We say this because often a game is won or lost in the third period ... So have the Aussies got this one in the bag?

By the way, Sophie Garbin is still shooting at 100 per cent! 28 goals from 28 attempts. What an effort!

Bruce and Aryang applying pressure

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The former West Coast Fever teammates are tag teaming Nweke nicely and sandwiching her everytime the feed comes in. It's putting a world of pressure on the Silver Ferns target to hold her positioning in the circle. Nweke better get used to it too, because although Bruce and Aryang don't play together in Super Netball anymore, this is the kind of pressure she'll be under each week once she joins the NSW Swifts for 2025.

Australia setting up a box defence

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With five minutes left before the final break, the Diamonds are floating off the body and really trying to confuse the space, particuarly as the Silver Ferns head over the transverse line and into their goal third. Moloney is putting on a masterclass in this off-line style of defence. Which is super impressive because her default mode in the midcourt has always been the tight one-on-one. As a result, she's been able to focus on reading the play as it comes down the court and pick ball off whenever it floats into a gap rather than trying to wear her player down. Smart work!

SCORE: 42-31 Australia's way

Aryang threatening

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Sunday Aryang is so close to getting hands to ball. She's already taken an intercept for the third quarter and added three deflections with no gain to her defensive stat tally. But she is putting some serious doubt in the New Zealand feeders mind. Her closing speed is electric and she is chasing the ball as it comes into Nweke like her life depends on it.

O'Brien enters the game

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Almost five minutes into this quarter, Taurua has made another change in the midcourt. Australian-born Claire O'Brien gets her first minutes of the match at wing attack. Qualifying for New Zealand selection with Māori parents and a playing contract with the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, she made her debut just weeks ago against England and has been impressive. The kiwis are hoping these changes in attack will get the ball to Nweke faster. As the Aussies have got a 4-0 start to the third quarter.

After 33 minutes at WA, Kimmy Poi heads to the bench. The kiwis now only have one more player in their game-day squad - Phoenix Karaka - that is yet to make it onto court.

Further changes for NZ

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Three subs made by the Silver Ferns coming out of the main break. Gordon is now off. Kate Heffernan has shifted to centre and Karin Burger has come back on to cover wing defence. Ekenasio is also back on now in goal attack replacing Wilson. The Aussies are unchanged.

Half-time statistics

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Here, we see the Aussies are being pulled up for more contact calls but the penalty count is pretty even when you factor in obstruction too. New Zealand need to get their three feet set before they set up their arms over the pass. They've also thrown the ball away three more times. That's probably got something to do with the changes in the shooting circle and trying to adjust to feeding the new shooters on court.

Half-time stats
Half-time stats.(Champion Data)

These scoring stats show how much the Aussies have swung the game their way in that second quarter, converting seven of the last 10 goals before half-time. Their centre-pass to goal rate is probably the best we've seen it throughout this Constellation Cup, so that demonstrates they're doing the basics right. Finally!

Not shown here are the shooting stats. Sophie Garbin is the only player still sitting at 100 per cent accuracy with 18/18 attempts.

Half-time stats
Half-time stats.(Champion Data)
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