So there you have it, the Silver Ferns just won their third straight game in the 2024 Constellation Cup series v the Diamonds by a whopping 18 goals (43-61). Now they can take this Trans-Trophy back into New Zealand territory with nothing to lose going into the fourth & final match at John Cain Arena in Melbourne on Wednesday,
It was a close one between both teams from the start when the Diamonds were usually dominant likewise on home turf alongside the Ferns on their own home front like we saw over the last seven days. However it’s the Ferns who got away on the winning front this time in Australia from a two-goal buffet at half-time (26-28) to a massive full-time win while the Diamonds just couldn’t find a way to arrest them and shut the Ferns’ defense down in its tracks.
This is the second time Dame Nolene Taurua has done it as head coach since 2021 when that edition’s Constellation Cup series were all played in New Zealand due to COVID at the time. Before that, the Silver Ferns only won the won once a long time ago (2012) in between the Diamonds’ long-running dominance since its inception back in 2010.
Gotta say she used Game 3 of the Taini Jamison Trophy as a practice game when they’ve lost that series already to England with the win, and her starting 7 never stopped working hard since then only while winning & still winning not once, twice but three times in a row now. Great to see Noelene and her players celebrate with joy post-game on a moment they will never forget – mark that down on the NZ netball & also NZ sporting history books.
Let’s start by Southern Steel’s Kate Heffernan with no introduction following her outstanding Constellation Cup performance once again including Game 3 tonight for the Ferns at Wing Defense. Speaking of defense, the credit is there from her Ferns back two in Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger who has that high jump with these intercepts, deflection & high ball catches – must’ve been a great cricketer back then. Plus, she also worked well together with her Netty Notes business partner & international team-mate Maddy Gordon through the mid-court that got the best out of the Ferns’ starring goal scorers Ameliaranne Ekenasio & Grace Nweke up front — particularly when the Diamonds weren’t that good at the back & they scored well each time with both hands. Mind you she also deserves to take out the player of the series as well with Kate always on top at her A-game through each and every match at all levels, more to come both club and country going into 2025!!
Then there’s her new Southern Steel team-mate Kimiora Poi at the other wing attacking end of the Ferns court. As said, the poor Diamonds’ defense and their goal scoring struggles allowed Gordon and Heffernan to link up with Poi on what has been a dangerous Ferns mid-court where Ekenasio and Nweke just never stopped scoring – that’s all. She had a really good last few years from when she played a bit of Australian netball with the then Collingwood team to making a name for herself with the Mainland Tactix where her side only lost the Elimination Final this year & now there’s still unfinished business ahead, and that will be helping her new club go back into winning ways for the Steel with Steel legend Wendy Frew onboard as the new coach.
And GWS Giants goal attacker Sophie Dwyer did the best she can for the Diamonds tonight this time starting in Perth, having shot most of the goals like he did all along in this Constellation Cup series. She should’ve been starting there no doubt instead of Kiera Austin from Game 1 as can’t guarantee any success based on just picking the Diamonds’ best front two from one particular top club which is the Melbourne Vixens. But then there’s deeper issues than that like her team’s really poor selections particularly at the back & even their mid-court that made it even worse sadly. That’s all I can say as they need to know what the Diamonds are really doing and if their starting 7 does well v Ferns, then stick to it while they can with the lead.