Australia Dominates Silver Ferns 68-51 in Constellation Cup Clash

The Australian Diamonds secured a commanding victory over the New Zealand Silver Ferns, winning 68-51 in Sydney on October 29, 2023. This match marked the second of the Constellation Cup series, with Australia now leading the series 2-0 as it heads to New Zealand for the next two tests.

The Silver Ferns entered halftime trailing by just two goals, but a disastrous third quarter saw them fall behind by 14 points. This pattern echoed their previous match against the Diamonds, where they also faltered in the final stages, losing 69-52. Both teams fielded the same starting line-ups as in the first test, but Australia’s depth allowed all 12 players to see action by the end of the match.

In the opening quarter, the Diamonds demonstrated their attacking prowess, forcing two held balls, including New Zealand’s first attempt at goal through Martina Salmon. The Silver Ferns struggled to advance the ball down the court effectively. Salmon’s offloads to Grace Nweke lacked precision, enabling the Diamonds’ defenders to capitalize on their mistakes. By the end of the first quarter, the Diamonds held a 19-13 lead.

Recognizing the need for a shift in strategy, interim Silver Ferns coach Yvette McCausland-Durie substituted Georgia Heffernan into the game for Salmon at goal attack. Heffernan’s presence brought more structure to the Silver Ferns’ attack, while wing attack Mila Reuelu-Buchanan began launching longer passes into Nweke. The Silver Ferns adjusted their defense in the second quarter, implementing a zone strategy that slowed the Diamonds’ momentum.

Goalkeeper Kelly Jackson intercepted a critical shooter-to-shooter pass, forcing the Diamonds into a held ball and giving New Zealand a chance to regain control. Despite some missed opportunities by Nweke, who faced aggressive double-teaming, the Silver Ferns finished the second quarter strong, winning it by four goals and narrowing the gap to 30-28.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point in the match. With Parris Mason coming on at goal defense, the Silver Ferns aimed to apply more pressure on the Diamonds’ attack. However, Nweke continued to struggle under the Australian defenders, leading to a chaotic performance where she often found herself off balance. Australia capitalized on this, dominating the third quarter 21-9, which left New Zealand trailing 51-37 heading into the final quarter.

In the final stretch, McCausland-Durie made further adjustments by introducing Peta Toeava at wing attack and Catherine Hall at goalkeeper. Toeava helped alleviate some of the pressure by feeding the ball directly to Nweke. The Silver Ferns began to chip away at the Diamonds’ lead, especially as Australia adjusted to new players Sarah Klau at goalkeeper and Cara Koenen at goal shoot.

Despite the brief resurgence, the Diamonds quickly regained control, and the match concluded with Australia firmly in the lead. The next tests in the series will take place in New Zealand, with the third test scheduled for Hamilton on November 5, 2023.

As the Silver Ferns prepare to regroup, they will look to overcome their recent struggles and regain momentum in front of their home crowd.