Netball Constellation Cup

Australia's under-fire netballers put two weeks of intense controversy behind them with a gutsy fightback on the Gold Coast.

“I have a performance lane, my job is to connect the group, connect it to a game plan, support them to be their best versions,” she said. Watching on were two of the key protagonists in the controversy, Netball Australia Kelly Ryan and squad member Donnell Wallam. You can’t get much better and when you actually strip it all back, that’s where we connect the most.” be challenged early but bounce back and fight out the game, I think that shows incredible mental toughness, a huge amount of resilience and it shows that we’re going in a really good direction.” The team trailed for the first two quarters as peerless Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke went on a scoring streak, but adapted and started to build pressure. It was an emphatic and emotional victory for the side in front of a roaring home crowd.

Whitney Souness of New Zealand during the fourth Constellation Cup test on the Gold Coast. Photosport. The Constellation Cup was headed back into Australian ...

Taking four minutes to score their first goal of the quarter immediately put the Silver Ferns on the back foot. Bursting out to a seven-goal, the Silver Ferns were reeled in by a fast-finishing Australia. The Silver Ferns held at five-goal lead at halftime but fell away in the face of a rampant Diamonds side to lose the third stanza 19-8. The Garbin and Wood shooting connection rose to new levels during a decisive third spell. There was plenty of nip and tuck with the Diamonds drawing within two before the Silver Ferns rallied and repelled. Nweke and skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio gave the Diamonds defenders plenty to think about with their quick interplay and accuracy.

A week ago the Silver Ferns were sitting pretty - 2-nil up in the Constellation Cup and it looked like the Cup would stay in New Zealand's hands.

We got caught into catch up mode in our defence end, couldn't stop it, couldn't plug it." Dame Noeline was pleased the Ferns were able to improve to win the final quarter but lamented her side's ability to execute in crucial moments. A week ago the Silver Ferns were sitting pretty - 2-nil up in the Constellation Cup and it looked like the Cup would stay in New Zealand's hands.

A stirring third quarter has earned the Diamonds a comeback win over New Zealand and ensured a dramatic week for Netball Australia ended with possession of ...

With Wallam and Ryan watching from the sideline, the Diamonds battled to match New Zealand's pressure in the first half but exploded with a series-clinching third quarter. Rinehart's company took aim at NA's "virtue signalling". A stirring third quarter has earned the Diamonds a comeback win over New Zealand and ensured a dramatic week for Netball Australia ended with possession of the Constellation Cup.

With all the sponsorship drama going on around the team, missing their star shooter and trailing 2-0 to start the series, Australia's remarkable ...

Wallam is expected to debut and Paige Hadley will captain the side as Watson takes a much-deserved rest. Pundits had expected there to be a lot more whistle in the final game as a result, and while we saw more cautions given out (at least four), ironically, New Zealand were again the team that led the penalty count (91-77), conceding a whopping 29 in the third quarter. By the midway mark of the championship quarter, the Diamonds had scored 13 of the first 15 goals that period to force an 11-goal turnaround and find themselves in front for the first time in the game. In game three, the total penalty count had blown out to 130, and despite being the main offenders (71-59), the Silver Ferns had flagged the increasing physicality within the series as an area of concern with the umpires ahead of the final outing. [in the wake of the largest crisis that has rocked the sport throughout its history](/news/2022-10-23/tracey-holmes-netball-australia-sponsorship-crisis/101566600), the Diamonds produced an unbelievable performance in the championship quarter of [game four in the Constellation Cup series to seal a 57-53 victory and steal the trophy back from New Zealand](/news/2022-10-23/australia-new-zealand-diamonds-constellation-cup-series-win/101567914). [the team lifted in Melbourne on Wednesday to win by 15 goals](/news/2022-10-20/diamonds-keep-constellation-cup-series-alive-amidst-controversy/101554766), buoyed by a loud Australian crowd for the first time in more than 1,000 days.

The Silver Ferns led by five at halftime in Constellation Cup decider, but third quarter horror show gifts trophy to Australia.

A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. Leading 30-25 at halftime, the Ferns were feeling confident, but things unravelled quickly with the Diamonds going on a match-altering 12-2 run. The Netball World Cup in July 2023 is what these teams are building towards and they might meet again in the final there. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. If quality local sport journalism is important to you, become a Stuff supporter today. She landed 21 from 27 and got through a power of work, sending clean ball into Sophie Garbin, who has quickly established herself as Australia’s first-choice goal shoot. It was starting to capitulate there a wee bit, so that’s pleasing.” “I think defensively we got caught on the back and got pulled apart, which didn’t help us, but also we were chasing. New Zealand were left to wonder what might have been after leading 30-25 at halftime. After dropping the first two tests in New Zealand, Australia claw their way back to level the series and regain the Constellation Cup – which they lost to the Ferns last year. [Take five: What the Silver Ferns must do to beat Australia in Constellation Cup decider](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/130237169/take-five-what-the-silver-ferns-must-do-to-beat-australia-in-constellation-cup-decider?rm=a) Any hope of lifting the Cup disappeared with a nightmare start to the third quarter, where Australia outscored the Ferns 12-2 to build a 37-32 lead.

Stacey Marinkovich was overcome with emotion after the Diamonds retained the Constellation Cup with a comeback win. It was the culmination of a dramatic…