{Australia’s Diamonds Fall to Silver Ferns in Constellation Cup}
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New Zealand Defeats Australia in Third constellation Cup Test
What happened?
New Zealand defeated Australia 61-52 in the third Test of the Constellation Cup, held in Hamilton. This victory prevents Australia from securing the Cup and keeps the series alive.
Australia had previously won the first two Tests of the series, both by 17-goal margins, hosted in Australia. However, the Silver Ferns rebounded strongly on their home court.
Grace Nweke was instrumental for New Zealand, scoring 44 goals from 46 attempts. Sophie Garbin led the scoring for Australia with 22 goals.
Key Statistics
| Team | Score | Goals (Shooting Accuracy) |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (Silver Ferns) | 61 | 44/46 (95.7%) – Grace Nweke |
| Australia (Diamonds) | 52 | 22/ - Sophie Garbin |
Why This Matters: The Constellation Cup Context
The Constellation Cup is a prestigious netball competition contested between Australia and New Zealand. Australia has historically dominated, but New Zealand’s recent performance signals a shift in momentum.
Australia’s losing streak in New Zealand now extends to nine consecutive games, with their last win on New Zealand soil occurring in 2021. This highlights the Silver Ferns’ strong home advantage.
Timeline and What’s Next
October 2023: Australia wins the first two Tests of the Constellation Cup series in Australia.
November 2023 (October 29th): New Zealand wins the third Test in Hamilton, 61-52.
November 2023 (November 1st): The fourth and final Test will be played in Christchurch.
If New Zealand wins the fourth Test,the series will be tied 2-2. This will trigger a “Series Decider Time” – two seven-minute halves – to determine the cup winner.
The Return of Dame noeline Taurua
The Silver Ferns received a notable boost with the reinstatement of long-term coach Dame Noeline Taurua. She had been stood down in September following player complaints regarding her communication style.
New Zealand Netball announced that Taurua would resume her coaching duties at the end of the year, providing stability and leadership to the team.
Game Details: A Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
The Silver Ferns led after each quarter, demonstrating consistent performance throughout the match. The first quarter was particularly physical, with New Zealand overcoming an early 5-1 lead by Australia to finish ahead 13-12.
The second quarter saw both teams experience scoring runs, with New Zealand initially leading 23-16 before Australia responded.