Constellation Cup: Australia take two game lead over New Zealand
Last Updated: 09/10/14 2:02pm
Australia took a two game lead in the Constellation Cup series after beating New Zealand 49-40 in Melbourne on Wednesday.
The Diamonds have now extended their winning streak over the Silver Ferns to seven matches and cemented their position as the world No 1 team.
Lisa Alexander's side were unchanged from their 17-goal triumph in Invercargill last Thursday and the three-time Commonwealth champions continued to dominate from the start. The Diamonds defensive circle kept Ferns starting shooting partnership of Bailey Mes and Catherine Latu in check, the pair scoring just seven goals to the Australian's 11 in the opening quarter.
| Statistics | ||
| Australia | New Zealand | |
| 86% | Shooting % | 82% |
| 11 | Intercepts | 5 |
| 12 | Deflections | 22 |
| 5 | Rebounds | 7 |
| 45 | Penalties | 44 |
| 27 | Turnovers | 25 |
In the second the Silver Ferns found some resilience and the introduction of rookie, and Australian-born shooter Ameliaranne Wells at Goal Attack saw the lead reduced to just three.
The Australians made a change of their own at the break, putting Tegan Caldwell in at Goal Attack. The Melbourne Vixens shooter made an instant impact on her international home debut, along with the ever present 6ft 3in shooter Caitlin Basset, the pair scored the first five goals of the second half.
The Ferns appeared to be trying a more body-on-body defensive style in the circle, but Aussie Wing Attack Madi Robinson bossed the midcourt and was always confident to thread the ball to Bassett - who scored 33 goals from 40 attempts in the game.
The Ferns struggled to cope with the physicality of Bassett throughout the game, and with ten minutes to play in the third quarter they called a time out.
Momentum swing
Alexander enforced a new message at this point, telling her team to go for the intercepts. But this backfired as New Zealand scored the first three goals to swing the momentum back the other way.
They're a proud nation and every time you have to play country versus country you know it's going to be a tough tussle.
Madi Robinson on New Zealand
Heading in to the final 15 minutes the Australians were up by six but a spirited comeback by the Ferns, with some excellent movement by Latu in the shooting end and a switch to a more zonal defensive style, got them within in two goals with ten minutes to play.
But sloppy feeding by the Ferns let the pressure off the Commonwealth Games gold medallists and the Diamonds attacking trio of Robinson, Caldwell and Bassett took full advantage to end the game with a nine goal lead.
After the game Australian star Robinson said: "We knew they'd be wounded after the last two matches we've played against them and knew that it would be nothing else but a tough, fierce competition and they showed it.
"They're a proud nation and every time you have to play country versus country you know it's going to be a tough tussle.
"It was a really hard-fought for game tonight and credit to them, they brought it.
"It wasn't pretty out there but it was important to get the win."
Tri-Series on Sky
Australia v New Zealand - Midnight Sat 11th Oct and repeated 12pm Sun 12th Oct on Sky Sports 3.
Australia v England - LIVE 4am, Sun 19th Oct, on Sky Sports 4.
Australia v England - LIVE 9am on Sky Sports 2, Wed 22nd Oct.
