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NZ 39 Australia 53
Australia 53 (Bueta 31/33, Wood 19/22, Koenan 3/4) New Zealand 39 (Wilson 24/26, Metuarau 12/18, Nweke 3/5)
Fulltime
15th minute - Smooth transition from the centre pass from NZ, probably their best of the night, for Wilson to score, followed by another intercept on defence.
Better quarter from the Ferns and they will take a slight moral boost from that, but well beaten in the end, AUS 53-39
13th minute - Kersten returns to the game at centre, as Taurua tries to give her bench a run. Karaka rises high to block Bueta's shot, no mean feat, AUS 52-36
11th minute - Diamonds finally achieve their 50 goals, but their composure has disappeared, with the change for this final quarter.
Meturau's shooting has been exposed somewhat and Phoenix Karaka replaces Johnson on defence, AUS 50-36
Ninth minute - Metuarua is penalised for holding off her markers on attack, but NZ win another turnover and Wilson scores, AUS 49-35
Seventh minute - Another blood stoppage for Wilson, as Winders returns at centre for NZ, AUS 49-34
Fifth minute - Plenty of changes for Australia in this final quarter, with victory well in hand, but NZ have another turnover and Meturau converts at second attempt.
Third minute - NZ have a chance to eat into the lead, but Wilson misses from underneath and then penalises on the rebound.
Ferns defence working hard, but the attack can't capitalise on their chances. Finally, Metuarau converts off a turnover, AUS 48-31
First minute - Crampton returns to wing attack and Saunders shifts to centre for the final quarter. Metuarau slots a goal from the opening centre pass, AUS 47-30
Third quarter
15th minute - Brazill makes another miraculous intercept between two Ferns attackers, presenting Australia yet another chance to stretch the margin. Bueta slots two in quick succession and Wilson can't gather a halfcourt speculator pass, as the quarter ends, AUS 47-29
13th minute - Saunders finds Wilson on the baseline, but she holds on too long before shooting - held ball, AUS 45-28
11th minute - Ferns steadying the ship that was listing seriously a few minutes ago. Still well down and not showing the continuity to make a run at Australia, who force another loose pass on defence, AUS 42-28
Ninth minute - Jury is making her presence felt in defence and NZ have a chance to reduce their deficit, AUS 40-26
Seventh minute - Another blood stoppage, looks like Wilson's elbow. Metuarau is back on court for Nweke, while Johnson returns at goal defence, AUS 39-24
Fifth minute - Wilson misses again and NZ have not scored yet in this quarter. Finally, Wilson breaks the drought, but it has extended to seven goals for Australia.
Kersten steals the ball on defence, with a chance to nibble into the deficit, but Wilson can't gather a long pass, AUS 37-22
Third minute - Nweke penalised under goal and Aussies have a chance to create a swing in momentum. Saunders oncourt to replace captain Crampton, while Kersten is back form her blood replacement.
Nweke turns the ball over again and this margin is ballooning out quickly, AUS 35-21
First minute - Jury introduced into the Ferns defensive circle, adding some height, but Aussies convert their opening centre pass, AUS 31-21
Halftime
15th minute - Wilson is on target, looking more confident than she did during the NZ season. Maybe Nweke's presence giving her some space in the goal circle.
Nweke wins a penalty under goal as the siren sounds, but she hurries her shot and can't convert, AUS 30-21
13th minute - NZ squander their chance with a turnover in the attacking third. Burger is bleeding, so umpires call a stoppage to clean up the mess - Wood needs a courtside change of dress.
Bueta is on target, as play resumes, but Johnson is back momentarily for NZ. Wilson finds Nweke with a lob into the circle, AUS 28-20
11th minute - Wilson rattles home a goal to stem the bleeding momentarily, but Australia still well on top.
Wood is pinged for contact in the Diamonds circle, so NZ have a chance to make some headway into this deficit. Nice shot from Wilson, AUST 27-18
Ninth minute - Crampton is pinged for breaking on the centre pass and Aussies can stretch to a double-figure margin. Kersten enters the fray for Johnson, mitigating the risk of her taking another caution and a stand-down, AUS 26-16
Seventh minute - Aussies edge back out to nine-goal advantage, but Nweke already presenting a bigger targer under goal for NZ, AUS 24-15
Fifth minute - Three straight goals for NZ, a small victory, after a shaky start, but the Diamonds are back on a roll. Johnson picks up a caution for deliberate contact.
Metuarau leaves, Nweke comes on at GS, with Wilson shifting ot GA, AUS 21-13
Third minute - Bueta stretches the margin to eight, with a centre pass to come. Wood misses her (and Australia's) first for the game and Ferns have a chance to whittle away at their deficit, AUS 19-12
First minute - Dame Noeline resists the temptation of making changes and NZ have the opening pass of the quarter. Close marking from Australia and Metuarau unable to gather a feed.
First quarter
15th minute - Wilson gets NZ into double figures, as the quarter winds down, but Wood slots one, as the siren sounds. Diamonds look dominant early, so how will Taurua counter, AUS 17-10
13th minute - Metuarau misses from close range and Aussies have a chance to stretch their margin, but can't gather a sharp pass at the other end, AUS 15-8
11th minute - NZ settling into their work now and Metuarau scores to maintain the five-goal deficit, AUS 12-7
Ninth minute - Metuarau misses her first shot, but Wilson is there for the rebound and putback to limit the damage. Wood maintains the perfect shooting display for Australia. AUS 10-6
Seventh minute - NZ looking disjointed and struggling to enter the shooting circile, but eventually Wilson slots their second goal. By contrast, Aussies quickly move the ball up court and score. AUS 8-4
Fifth minute - Loose pass in the Aussie attack and Johnson is there to snatch the turnover, but NZ can't capitalise, with another turnover at their attacking end. Wood stretches the advantage and the Ferns give the ball back again. AUS 6-1
Third minute - Metuarau counters with the Ferns' opening goal and Bueta restores Australia's scoreboard advantage.
NZ turn the ball over in the shooting circle, so Diamonds have first opportunity to create a margin.
First minute - Australia have first centre pass and work the ball into the shooting circle, where Wood slots the opening goal.
5:04am - The earlier clash between England and South Africa has seen the home side continue their great form from the NZ tour, overwhelming the Proteas 71-47.
The Roses took the second quarter 21-11, with George Fisher carrying the bulk of shooting duties, connecting on 37/40 shots, while Helen Housby slotted a perfect 19/19.
4:48am - Both starting line-ups are in and NZ coach Dame Noeline Taurua has opted for Kayla Johnson - wife of NZ Warriors league star Shaun Johnson - at wing defence in her comeback to international netball, while Maia Wilson and Tiana Metuarau will occupy the shooting circle.
NZ: GS-Maia Wilson, GA-Tiana Metuarau, WA-Gina Crampton, C-Sam Winders, WD-Kayla Johnson, GD-Karin Burger, GK-Sulu Fitzpatrick
Australia: GS-Gretel Bueta, GA-Steph Wood, WA-Liz Watson, C-Paige Hadley, WD-Ash Brazill, GD-Jo Weston, GK-Courtney Bruce
*****
Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Silver Ferns' opening Northern Quad Series clash with Australia at London's Copper Box Arena.
For the first time since COVID-19 first struck two years ago, four of the world's top netball nations will gather for battle, with half an eye on the looming Birmingham Commonwealth Games later this year.
While New Zealand enter the event as reigning world champions, they struggled to keep their programme on track during 2021, with last remaining 'fossil' Katrina Rore, captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and vice-captain Jane Watson all on pregnancy leave, and a fresh coronavirus wave closing down a Constellation Cup series against the Aussies.
The country's latest lockdown threatened to close down home series against England and NZ Men, but when they eventually proceeded, the Roses shocked their hosts, while a depleted and underprepared male squad took out their final encounter.
Unavailability and injury forced Coach Dame Noeline Taurua to field inexperienced line-ups, which may help the Ferns' depth in the long term, but couldn't produce victory in the short term.
The NZ women will hope that valuable gametime converts to improved performance in London.
They haven't met the Diamonds since their 2020 Constellation Cup victory, so that familiarity factor will be missing from this encounter.
Most interest will fall on how up-and-coming Ferns shooters Grace Nweke and Tiana Metuarau kick on, after their mixed debuts against England.
TAB odds: New Zealand $2.25, Australia $1.57
New Zealand: Gina Crampton, Karin Burger, Sulu Fitzpatrick, Jayla Johnson, Kelly Jury, Phoenix Karaka, Claire Kersten, Tiana Metuarau, Grace Nweke, Mile Reuelu-Buchanan, Shannon Saunders, Fild Vui, Maia Wilson, Samantha Winders
Australia: Liz Watson, Sunday Aryang, Ash Brazill, Courtney Bruce, Gretel Bueta, Sophie Dwyer, Sophie Garbin, Paige Hadley, Kate Moloney, Jamie-Lee Price, Sarah Klau, Cara Koenen, Maddy Turner, Jo Weston, Steph Wood
Silver Ferns hoping to make amends for shock home series loss to England
On Sunday morning (NZ time), the curtain will rise on international netball for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
And the Silver Ferns aren't underestimating the importance of the Northern Quad Series to rebuild their confidence, heading into this year's Commonwealth Games.
The reigning world champions will face trans-Tasman rivals Australia in the opening round and coach Dame Noeline Taurua is confident they're the most prepared they've been in months.
The Ferns have blown off the last of the cobwebs, before the long-awaited series begins
For the first time since the coronavirus took hold, four of the best netballing nations will go head to head.
"This series is a good opportunity to eye each other up," admits Dame Noeline.
But that's not the only reason they're there. After a home series defeat to England in September, the team are determined to right the wrongs.
"These experiences that we have on court are going to set us up for learnings that we need to do," says Taurua.
Building confidence is also key for returning mums Phoenix Karaka and Kayla Johnson, who have been out of the game for some time.
"Both of them have done a lot of work over the Christmas break and they've been performing quite well," says Dame Noeline. "I think the next step for both of them is getting back on the court."
Along with the rest of the squad, who are in peak condition, even by Taurua's notorious standards.
"We are really happy with how everyone has presented themselves and our current numbers, so we know we will all foot it against the opposition, so tick in that regard."
This will be their last chance to make a statement before the gold medal goes on the line at Birmingham.
