SILVER FERNS 47 AUSTRALIA 62
FULLTIME
15min - Gordon fires a long pass to Ekenasio and she adds another to NZ's small tally for the quarter. NZ try one last attack, get the contact call and Ekenasio sinks it but that's game over!
13min - Ekenasio scores a rare NZ goal in this fourth quarter, but in a flash Australia work their way down the court, win the rebound and sink another goal.
11min - And just like that, NZ now trail by 15 goals, as NZ turn another ball over. Silver Ferns just look out of it in the final quarter, and the goal difference won't make the coach happy.
9min - Ekenasio tries to find Nweke but there's just way too much on the pass and the shooter can only tip the ball on its way out. Australia make NZ pay with yet another goal.
7min - Nweke makes just her third miss of the entire series but does well to win the rebound and sink the goal. Despite her fantastic percentage, she has definitely had a tough time of it.
5min - Australia now race to a 10-goal lead, as Taurua keeps making wholesale changes, with the players really unable to settle in for very long. NZ will need a miracle to win this game.
3min - Australia happy to make short passes and run NZ around, as they now extend their lead to an imposing nine goals with 12 minutes to play.
1min - We're back underway for the final quarter! Can NZ pull it back or will Australia force a decider in the Constellation Cup?
END OF THIRD QUARTER
15min - NZ playing at a much higher pace, but Australia doing well to calm things down, showing great composure to free up their attack and convert their chances.
13min - Karaka has made a huge difference in this quarter, and Selby-Ricket is combining nicely with Nweke, as both teams find success on attack to retain the same goal difference.
11min - Karaka tries to intercept the ball but it called for contact, as both teams exchange goals, but NZ doing well to prevent from Australia from running away with it.
9min - Nweke is off balance but somehow gets the shot up and scores! Classy stuff from the Silver Ferns shooter, and NZ reduce the lead to six goals.
7min - Plenty of off the ball stuff happening between both teams, but Australia seem to be getting the better of the exchanges, as Nweke checks, fires and scores.
5min - Nweke asks for the ball and gets it, showing good strength again to win possession and settle herself underneath the net to conver the goal. Souness does well to win the ball back.
3min - NZ again showing good pressure on centre court to force the turnover, but much like the first two quarters, give the ball back, and concede two goals.
1min - We're back underway in the second half. NZ making plenty of changes again. Both sides exchange goals, but Australia score another to take their lead back to 10 goals.
HALFTIME
15min - Weston makes amazing steal for Australia with great anticipation, as the hosts look to finish the quarter strong, but can't convert the chance underneath the goal
13min - Jury shows clever defence to win the ball back for NZ and the Silver Ferns kick into attack and pull back another goal to reduce the lead to eight.
11min - New Zealand have scored the last five of seven goals, as Selby-Ricket nails one...but in just a couple of phases, Australia hit back to regain a 10-goal cushion.
9min - Souness pulls of a fantastic interception and feeds Nweke, who scores a couple of goals to claw NZ back a bit - but Australia still in firm control as Heffernan throws the ball out.
7min - NZ crowding the Australians on attack, but the hosts show good composure to move the ball around and sink the goal to move to a double-digit lead.
5min - Australia race to an eight-goal lead and almost pull off an amazing interception but Nweke shows great strength to win the ball and shoot the goal.
3min - Silver Ferns not having much luck, with the ball hitting backs and legs. Australia making them pay, scoring two a couple of quick back-to-back goals to extend the lead to six.
1min - NZ get us underway in the second quarter, Australia showing great pressure on defence, but the Ferns finally get the ball to Nweke and she scores the goal.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
15min - New Zealand finally finding some success towards the end of the first quarter, as Nweke scores twice to reduce to lead to four for Australia.
13min - Nweke sinks another goal but in just a couple passes, Australia respond with another, been a completely dominant opening quarter from the hosts.
11min - Jury struggling with her opposite and the ref's whistle, allowing Australia to extend their goal lead with several free shots at goal. Ekenasio and Nweke combine well to score though.
9min - Souness with a better feed now, finding Ekenasio who tries the long-ranged shot but misses and Australia win the rebound, try the rocket pass and eventually convert the shot.
7min - Weston this time for Australia showing great hussle to win the ball back from NZ, before converting the chance into another goal and they now lead by five.
5min - Nweke comes out of her area to play a nice one-two to get the ball back and sink her first goal, but it's all Australia at the moment, they look a completely different side.
3min - Ekenasio scores NZ's first goal after more than two minutes into the game, before Australia need just two passes to respond with another goal of their own.
1min - NZ force the error with great pressure on defence, but Nweke is unable to gather the ball and Australia turn it over right back and score the game's first goal.
9:28pm - Now for the welcome and the anthems. Should be the closest test of the series so far in front of a soldout John Cain Arena. Just moments away!
9:20pm - Thank you for joining us tonight! We're just under 10 minutes away from starting - the teams are listed below, can NZ wrap up the series tonight?
TEAMS
New Zealand: GS Nweke, GA Ekenasio WA Gordon C Souness WD Heffernan GD Karaka GK Jury
Australia: GS Garbin, GA Wood, WA Watson, C Moloney WD Price GD Weston GK Bruce
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to live updates of the third test of the Constellation Cup netball series between the Silver Ferns and Australia.
After winning the first two games, New Zealand head across the Tasman with the chance to clinch the series with victory in Melbourne.
The Silver Ferns dominated the opening fixtures at home, but now face the tough task of beating their fierce rivals in front of a sellout John Cain Arena.
New Zealand will also have to do it without the star from the last test, defender Pita Toeva, who wasn't included in the Australian leg of the series.
Meanwhile, Australia need a win to keep the series alive, with the final match to be played in Gold Coast on Sunday.
TAB betting odds:
New Zealand $2.25 Australia $1.57
Squads:
New Zealand: Ameliaranne Ekenasio (captain), Maddy Gordon, Kate Heffernan, Kayla Johnson, Kelly Jury, Phoenix Karaka, Grace Nweke, Kimiora Poi, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Whitney Souness, Elle Temu, Maia Wilson
Australia: Sunday Aryang, Kiera Austin, Ruby Bakewell-Doran, Courtney Bruce, Sarah Klau, Cara Koenen, Kate Moloney, Amy Parmenter, Jamie-Lee Price, Maddy Proud, Liz Watson, Steph Wood
Silver Ferns looking to 'shut up' sellout Melbourne crowd against Australia
The Silver Ferns are looking to 'shut up' a sellout Melbourne crowd in their potential Constellation Cup-sealing test against Australia on Wednesday.
New Zealand won their first two games and can lock away the trophy for another year, if they triumph over their rivals at the 10,000-capacity John Cain Arena.
Silver Ferns defender Phoenix Karaka is embracing the tough task ahead of them and reveals the hostile crowd will only aid them in their conquest.
"Obviously, there will be a bit of booing to our side, but I always love hearing the crowd, whether it's for or against us," she said. "I think it's a good energy booster for any team.
"It will be amazing to hear those 10,000 people here, but I don't really find it as a distraction. I find it's something that we can use for us, even though it is against us.
"When we can shut them up, that will be a really good sign."
Karaka's evolving combination with defender Kelly Jury has been one of many bright spots for the high-flying Ferns in the opening two test matches.
She admits the pair don't talk much on court, but she wouldn't have it any other way, as New Zealand prepare for an Australian backlash.
"I think there's a lot of trust in the combination that we have, but also not just between us two," Karaka said. "The fronts, the attackers that are defending through court... I think there's a lot of growth that we've had since the Comm Games.
"We're trying a few new things, and we're committing really hard to what we're learning and in training, and it's showing in the game, but I think the combination between me and Kels has been awesome.
"We don't really talk that much, but when we do, it's to-the-point kind of conversation, which is really nice.
"Defensively, as a team, we're working really hard to get the ball - now we've got to really look after the ball we get. We're scoring our own, but we need to treasure the ball we do get as a bonus.
"The advantage of being home and that crowd is the eighth player for any team, but I think they will come out firing. They will probably have a few things up their sleeve that they haven't really shown yet, so it will be interesting to see that.
"I think they will come back with the physical game, but also they are doing really well, they are coming back when we've had a lead. They will probably look at how clinical they are at scoring the ball they do get - like us."
