Silver Ferns Go Down to Australia in Constellation Cup Opener 
The Silver Ferns have gone down to the Australian Diamonds in the netball Constellation Cup Series opener. With the game hanging in the balance for most of the second half, the possibility of a win for the Ferns was always on the cards. The team now finds themselves 1-0 with three tests left to play. As it stands, New Zealand has lost 8 out of 9 games against Australia on home soil. If they want to stand any chance of winning the series, they need to change the game plan.
As for Thursday’s match, the Australian Diamonds quickly built up a lead, going four goals up by the end of the first quarter. This was the where the margin stayed for most of the match as the Ferns were able to reel them in as soon as they pulled away. By the time the final period got underway, the goal difference was still at four until the Ferns finally upped their defence and got within a single goal.
However, that was as close as it got. It was a very physical match with the Ferns racking up a total of 76 penalties while the Diamonds posted 70 of their own. Speaking to the press, Ferns Captain Katrina Grant said that the intensity of the match was far greater than their match in Invercargill where they beat the Diamonds 57-47.
Mixing Up the Defence
One of the key aspects of their win there was the defence work done by Kelly Jury. With Jury benched in Auckland, Australia’s Caitlin Basset was given free rein to score a total of 39 goals from 43 attempts. At the same time, the Ferns relied heavily on Baily Mes when they found themselves on the attacking end of the court. Swapping out with Maria Tutaia in the second quarter didn’t improve things. It was only in the final quarter that Tutaia’s shooting started paying off.
With the Ferns down by eight at the break, Southby switched things up in the defence, bringing in Kayla Cullen at wing and Temalisi Fakahokotau for goal duty. This gave the team a defensive kick-start, allowing Fakahokotau to make some big plays down the court. Looking ahead to their second match of the series in this Sunday, the Ferns will want to build on their final quarter performance. Had they been playing like that for most of the game, it would have been a very different outcome.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Betway |  | 5/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Picklebet | | 4.9/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now Review |
More About Lauren Ball
An avid writer and sports betting enthusiast, Lauren Ball has found the ideal way to combine the two. As a regular contributor and resident OnlineBettingNZ.co.nz expert, Lauren is now putting her considerable wisdom to good use, and keeps punters informed as to what’s hot and happening in the online betting and sporting world.
From the latest sports results to any upsets or developments in the betting world, Lauren makes it her business to know what’s going on in the industry and share it with those who have the same interests.
You May Also Like:
Fast5 Netball World Series To Return To NZ
Great news for Kiwi netball fans is that much more international netball is about to come to New Zealand. This following the news that the Fast5 Netball World Series is ….
Jane Watson Out For Rest Of 2021
New Zealand’s Silver Ferns will have to make do without the power-play of star defender Jane Watson for the remainder of the year. This after Watson underwent a cleanout and ….
Taurua Disappointed By Players’ Fitness Fail
Dame Noeline Taurua says she hopes the five unnamed players recently sent packing from the Silver Ferns training camp due to below-par fitness standards will act as a wakeup call ….
Taurua Says Team Was “Timid” Against England
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua says her side played an extremely “timid” game against England’s national side – and that their performance marks a solid step backwards from the steely ….
Silver Ferns Power Through Slug To NZ-A Win
New Zealand’s Silver Ferns on Wednesday night powered successfully through a slow and sluggish first half and all the way to a superior start to the current Cadbury Series. The ….