New Zealand have broken their nine-game losing streak against world netball champions Australia, enjoying a 55-44 Constellation Cup victory in Hamilton.
The result will bring some relief to the under-siege Silver Ferns, who finished fourth - their worst Commonwealth Games showing - on the Gold Coast in April, losing to Australia, England, Jamaica and (for the first time) Malawi in the process.
Afterwards, NZ Netball installed Noeline Taurua as coach and welcomed back Laura Langman from exile. This was Taurua's second victory in charge - her side beat South Africa in last month's Quad Series.
- Improving Silver Ferns must negate effect of Australian captain Caitlin Bassett
- Ferns fall to Australia in Laura Langman's record-breaking test
- Noeline Taurua stamping her mark on Silver Ferns
"I think it's always good to get the 'W', just to reinforce that the processes we have in place do work and that we have the capability to do it," said captain Langman afterwards.
New Zealand began strongly to lead 14-13 after the opening quarter. Significantly, shooters Maria Folau and Te Paea Selby-Rickit combined for a 100 percent return, with Folau contributing 13 of those goals.
Shooting had been pinpointed as a particular weakness of the national team over recent months, with fingers being pointed at veteran Folau and her various partners.
One of the solutions to that problem has been shifting Folau from goal attack to goal shoot and she responded on this occasion with a near-perfect shooting performance, eventually missing just one of her 41 attempts.
The Silver Ferns won every quarter, but were especially dominant in the fourth, which they took 14-8.
While New Zealand enjoyed a stellar shooting performance, defender Jane Watson was eventually named player of the match, with her pressure throwing the Aussie shooting circle into disarray.
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander started Caitlin Thwaites and Gretel Tippett under the goal, but changed that combination for each subsequent quarter, bringing back ace Caitlin Bassett in search of a duo that would see her side home.
Watson, who wasn't wanted for the Commonwealth Games squad, made three spectacular interceptions and Australia struggled to consistently feed their shooters quality ball.
They were also hammered by match umpires, who called theim for a crippling 81 penalties - 36 more than the home team. Goal-keep Courtney Bruce drew 20 of those penalties.
The outcome keeps the Constellation Cup series alive, with Australia leading 2-1 and the deciding game scheduled for Wellington on Thursday.
The Silver Ferns must win by 14 goals or more to claim the trophy on goal difference.
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