In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the netball world, New Zealand’s Silver Ferns have wrested the Constellation Cup away from Australia’s Diamonds with a decisive 61-43 thrashing at Perth’s RAC Arena. The Silver Ferns entered Sunday’s blockbuster clash with a 2-0 lead in the four-match series, having defeated Australia 64-50 and 63-52 on home soil. The Diamonds needed wins in both Perth and Melbourne to level the series and force extra time, but it was not to be.
Nweke Unstoppable as Ferns Surge Ahead
The match was evenly poised at halftime, but New Zealand came out firing in the third quarter, stunning the home crowd with a blistering 13-4 run. Star shooter Grace Nweke proved virtually unstoppable, nailing 47 goals from 50 attempts to spearhead the Silver Ferns’ charge to victory and an unassailable 3-0 series lead.
Grace was absolutely phenomenal out there today. She really took the game on and set the tone for us in attack. It’s a huge win for us, especially on Australian soil.
– Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio
Ekenasio herself was no slouch, chipping in with 14 goals from 17 attempts to provide valuable support to the dominant Nweke. For Australia, Sophie Garbin top-scored with 26 from 28, while Sophie Dwyer managed 14 from 20.
Early Promise Fades for Diamonds
The Diamonds showed early promise, with Jamie-Lee Price snaring two first-quarter intercepts to help her side level the scores at 13-13 at quarter time, despite trailing 6-2 early. Courtney Bruce also battled valiantly against the taller Nweke, physically imposing herself on the Kiwi shooter and making her work for every score.
But the tide turned dramatically in the third quarter. Despite the best efforts of substitute goalkeeper Rudi Ellis, the Silver Ferns surged to a 41-30 lead with five minutes remaining in the term, effectively ending the contest. Turnovers further up the court proved costly for the Diamonds, who simply had no answer for the rampant Ferns.
Aryang Debut a Lone Bright Spot
The introduction of hometown hero Sunday Aryang in the final quarter drew a mighty cheer from the parochial crowd, and the young defender immediately snared an intercept. But it was too little, too late for the shell-shocked Diamonds, who trailed 46-35 at the final change.
The Silver Ferns were ruthless in the final stanza, extending their lead to claim a famous 18-goal victory – their biggest ever winning margin against the Diamonds in Australia. The psychological impact of this result cannot be overstated heading into Wednesday’s fourth and final test in Melbourne.
Diamonds in Disarray
For Australian netball, this loss is nothing short of catastrophic. The Diamonds have been a powerhouse of the sport for decades, but this series defeat – on home soil no less – will force some deep introspection.
- Is the current crop of players up to international standard?
- Are wholesale changes needed to rejuvenate the national setup?
- How does the team rebound from such a demoralizing defeat?
These are just some of the tough questions the Diamonds brains trust will need to grapple with in the coming days and weeks. For now though, the Silver Ferns will rightly bask in the glory of a famous series victory – their first Constellation Cup triumph since 2021, and one that will live long in the memory of Kiwi sports fans.
A Changing of the Guard?
In the end, this series will perhaps be remembered as a changing of the guard in international netball. The young Silver Ferns, led by the irrepressible Nweke, have announced themselves as the team to beat heading into next year’s Netball World Cup in South Africa.
We came here wanting to make a statement, and I think we’ve done that. This group has so much talent and hunger, and we’re only going to get better from here. But we won’t be getting carried away – our focus now is on finishing the job in Melbourne.
– Silver Ferns Coach Noeline Taurua
For the Diamonds, some serious soul-searching awaits. But as they’ve shown time and again over the years, you can never write off an Australian netball team. Expect them to come out firing in Game 4, desperate to salvage some pride and prove that reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated.
One thing’s for sure – the netball world will be watching with bated breath. This trans-Tasman rivalry has just been reignited in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
