The next big netball competition is the Constellation Cup, which starts on October 7, again between Australia and New Zealand.
That’s it for SportsWatch today. See you next time.
The Diamonds have won the Quad title, with a clean sweep of the series, with wins against England, South Africa and now New Zealand. After the team’s humiliating loss to England in the Commonwealth Games final, it is a sweet victory. Captain Bassett acknowledges the tough competition and points her own player, Bruce, as one of the star players of this quad. Well done to all teams, but especially the Diamonds.
Final quarter: the Diamonds win 60 to the Ferns 55
The lead of this game fluctuated between no more than seven goals but in the end, it was five goals the difference.
This game has been a suburb display of athleticism from both sides, with the Ferns proving that they are a real threat; credit for the renewed side must go to their new coach, Noeline Taurua. The five goal gap is the closest the Ferns have gotten to against the Diamonds in seven matches, which shows just how fat the side have come, especially since the Commonwealth Games in April.
Well done to the Diamonds, they proved once again that they are a world-class side, especially with their rebuilt, young players.
8. 39 min Fourth quarter: The Aussies scored a goal within the opening seconds and further look their lead further, to 10 goals, in the first three minutes of the quarter. The Ferns seemed to feel the pressure and made some sloppy errors but their play tightened up again, with a long goal getting them back on track. Bruce’s defence work for the Diamonds continues to keep them on the winning side so far.
Updated
Third quarter: Diamonds leading 45 to the Ferns 38
The Ferns made some riskier moves but most of them got turned around against them, although their long-play transition at about the 3.20 minute mark was a thing of beauty - shear speed and precision resulted in a great goal against a hapless Aussies. However, the Aussies continued their pattern of matching goal with goals and have stretched out their lead to seven points. If they can keep this pattern going into the fourth quarter, then the Quad title is theirs.
Updated
6.30 min: We’re back for the third quarter and the Ferns narrowed the gap early in the quarter to three points but the Diamonds responded by scoring another goal. The Ferns had some tight long passes which was a solid change from some of the messier play they performed in the second quarter. The Ferns seem to be re-energised and have re-focused, which has paid off. Bu like the narrative of this game, whatever the Ferns off, it seems to spark something extra from the Diamonds and they’ve continued to control this game. Diamonds 49 to Ferns 33.
Third quarter: This has been a thrilling game so far, with the Diamonds leading by five goals. They haven’t managed to extend their lead by more than six goals so far and New Zealand have shown that they have the fire to match their rivals goals fairly consistently. Bruce and Tippet have been star contributors and the intercept work has kept the Ferns at bay.
Second quarter: Diamonds lead 40 points to the Ferns' 25
The Ferns are starting to close the gap between them and the Diamonds, but for every question the Ferns have, the Diamonds have an answer. The speed of this essential match has continued form the first quarter, with a near constant flow of scoring between the two sides. Will this energy continue into the third quarter?
Second quarter: We’re back to some really fast play, with the Ferns the first, again, to welcome a fresh quarter with a goal. But a couple of misses is showing the Ferns’ weakness in this quarter. The Diamonds are leading by four goals (23 to 18), with Tippet continuing to shine in this game.
First quarter: Diamonds lead 16 to the Ferns' 11
The Aussie’s have earned themselves a bit of breathing room, having extended their lead by five goals. It’s remains a tight game though. The Diamonds’ Tippet had a stunning first quarter, with a strong rebound and a couple of goals. She’s faced criticism about whether she’s really earned her position in the squad, but this early performance has given her the perfect response.
5.08 min: The Ferns are bursting with energy, with some long throws and athletic play - their hunger for a win is clear for all to see. A couple of misses for the goal means that all that energy might not be being put to best use. The tight goal scoring continues, with barely a breath between them - each goal by one side is almost consistently being matched by a goal by the other.
Updated
First Quarter:
New Zealand are on the scoreboard thanks to a straight goal from Folau. It’s quickly followed up by two goals by the Diamonds, then another goal. The game started with the intensity expected in such an important match; play is tight and both sides are using their defence strongly but the goals are coming fast - just under the 10 minute mark and it’s tied at five goals a piece.
Updated
We’re just a few moments off from the start, which follows an epic battle between England and South Africa in the Quad series, with England winning narrowly 45 to 42.
We’re now hearing the national anthem of New Zealand, and it appears that the players know the words, which is odd for Australians, who take great pride in knowing only the first verse of ours. Plus, we sometimes sit down when it’s played.
There have been a couple of changes to the Diamonds side, while the Ferns are sticking with their line-up that toppled South Africa on Tuesday.
Diamonds: Bassett, Tippett, Weston, Simpson, Watson, Bruce, Ravaillon
Ferns: Langman, Crampton, Selby-Rickit, Grant, Watson, Sokolich-Beatson, Folay
Preamble
Welcome to SportsWatch for Sunday, September 23. With the AFL grand final players settled, we’ll turn our attention the netball. Today, the Diamonds take on their arch enemies, the Ferns in the final quad series test.
Despite a stronger Ferns side, the Diamonds go into the match as clear favourites, having clearly won their last bout - the semi-final at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April - by a stunning 21 points. It was also their sixth consecutive win over the Ferns.
The Diamonds and Ferns are fierce rivals, with the Aussies being eager to take their winning streak against the neighbors to a seventh consecutive win. In kind, the Ferns will be wanting to keep the Quad title, having taken it home last year.
The Diamonds are coming off strong wins against both England and South Africa and if they beat the Ferns, they will have stitched up the series. But if the Ferns can manage to win by six points, then the trophy is theirs. Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander has already come out and stated that the team needs to play ‘tougher’ if they have any hopes of beating the Ferns, who have rebuilt their side and are considered a real threat. The Ferns too are under a fresh coach, Noeline Taurua, plus they welcome back veteran Laura Langman, the side’s new captain, after a two-year hiatus.
Sorry for the delay, we had a few technical issues but all is well now (I hope).
