Australia’s Constellation Cup redemption is off to the perfect start with a 17-goal win over rivals New Zealand in Melbourne.
The Diamonds created netball history as they piled on plenty of fourth quarter pain to record their highest-ever score against the Silver Ferns in the 69-52 win.
It was a tight tussle for three quarters before the Diamonds simply blew the visitors away with a 24-goal final term.
MVP Kate Moloney says she thought she knew the Ferns were going to come out firing and they knew if they could just grind it out, the opportunities would come.
Kiwi captain Karin Burger described the loss as disappointing, after allowing the Diamonds to outscore them by 13 goals in the last quarter.
Burger says they really gave it to them.
Sophie Garbin finished the pick of the goalers with 42 goals at 93%, ahead of Kiwi star Grace Nweke who nailed 37 goals at 90%.
Nweke was under intense pressure from the Diamonds “fortress” in defence as Fever premiership teammates Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang starred in the latter’s first match of this international season.
Aryang had missed the clean sweep series win over South Africa, but came in to replace Jo Weston and had an immediate impact.
With scores tied after one quarter and the Diamonds holding a two-goal buffer at the main break, it was the second-half where Australia really blew the game open.
The floodgates opened late in the third term as New Zealand struggled to sight star Grace Nweke, repeatedly throwing ball away over the baseline.
Game two now heads to Sydney on Wednesday night.
Source: Fox Netball
