I’ve just gone back to double check. The officials got it right, it was supposed to be a NZ centre pass to start the third quarter. The Diamonds had the last centre pass of the second period, where Dwyer missed a shot.

Assistant coach Nicole Richardson was spotted chatting with the umpires and bench before they started the third quarter because she believed it was Diamonds ball. But not sure why she got confused, because it was New Zealand’s fair and square.

Agree with you though that the Diamonds are in disarray. They were heavy favourites leading into this series and there hasn’t been a single player other than Jamie-Lee Price that I can think of that has really tried to fight their way back into the contest. They have looked like a different team these past three games. Seriously concerning. Not the way they’d like to finish 2024.

Seems there’s a bit of work to do to get this line-up ready for a Commonwealth Games and home World Cup without the likes of Steph Fretwell or Ash Brazill in the mix. Now those players have retired it seems Australia needs to find it’s way again. Particuarly in the shooting circle. And when a player like Kiera Austin has excelled all year in the Super Netball league, but now can’t execute for the Diamonds. We have to question what’s impacted her preparation?

We mentioned already that this is the third time the Silver Ferns have ever won the Constellation Cup, but they’ve never been able to win it on Australian soil until now. What an effort!

To be honest, statistics read very similar to the way they did at half-time. The Diamonds had way too many penalties 64 and as a result, stood out of play spectating the game rather than winning back the ball. The Silver Ferns did a wonderful job of keeping off the body and staying effective in defence.

However there is a huge difference here on the gain to goal rate. In the first 30 minutes, the Diamonds were converting 75 per cent of their defensive efforts and the Silver Ferns were at just 43 per cent. It’s almost the total opposite by the end of the 60 minutes. Showing how much ball the Aussies threw away towards the end and just how clinical the visitors were to finish.

The Diamonds accuracy slipped to 78 per cent as well. New Zealand remaind composed under the post to remain in the 90s percentile. Grace Nweke finishing as the highest scoring player on court with 47 goals.

Thanks for following along Natty! Nice to see a different storyline though, as the Silver Ferns get a rare chance to lift the trophy.

The wing defence forced the Australian captain to the bench for the second time in as many games. What an effort from Heffernan! One gain, three pick-ups. She contributed a lot in attack too! Tallying 20 centre pass recieves, five second-phase recieves, six feeds and five goal assists. That’s a huge workload for a player that can’t even enter her team’s goal third!

For just the third time in Constellation Cup history, the Silver Ferns have got their hands on the trophy. They’ve cleanswept the Diamonds 3-0 and locked in the result they were after with one more game still left to play.

Don’t forget this team dropped from second to third on the world rankings just last week. They lost to the England Roses 2-1 in the lead-up to this series. What a remarkable way to respond and show the world they deserve to be in the top two in the world. They may have missed the podium altogether at the recent Netball World Cup but there’s still fight in them yet.

SCORE: 61-43 New Zealand’s way

Nweke has been mentioned like a 100 times in this blog already, and rightly so! But she can’t star at goal shooter without a clinical goal attacker outfront. The Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio has gone about her business in this game with little fanfare. But her work to draw the defenders way out of the circle to create a one-on-one for Nweke with the Aussie goal keeper under the post has done wonders. She’s also put up the shots when Nweke has been double tagged and unable to get free. Brilliant accuracy and some beautiful cuts and drives in the goal third. Deserves her flowers too.

Diamonds captain Watson has been spotted on the bench. With the game looking pretty much out of reach, to say she looks deflated is an understatement. This loss is going to hurt the team big time.

With just under six minutes left in the game, there’s a fair bit of niggle creeping into the match. The Diamonds are frustrated and the Silver Ferns are not taking the foot on the pedal. Some of the pushing is getting picked up by the umpires.

SCORE: 54-40 New Zealand’s way

With just over 10 minutes left in the game, Marinkovich makes a desperate change, swapping Garbin for Cara Koenen. This is an important moment for Koenen, who was previously the Diamonds’ favoured starting goal shooter but has been overtaken by Garbin recently in that department. Here’s her opportunity to show Marinkovich she’s still got what it takes.

Sophie Garbin leaps into the air to take a feed high, before landing right on the baseline. The throw-in goes New Zealand’s way. The Diamonds are handing it right back to them!

Kelly Jackson has come flying out of the circle to intercept a pass Price intended for Dwyer. That was way too obvious from the Diamonds but credit where credit is due, Jackson read that beautifully. Her team reward her efforts and the kiwis hit the big five zero.

SCORE: 50-38 New Zealand’s way

A long feed sent in by Horjus almost went out of court, luckily Garbin has the skills to keep it in court, tapping it to her teammate in the pocket as she found her balance on the baseline. Aussies convert first in the final quarter. Is it time to bring the experience of a Watson back on court? Or do we persist with the fresher legs of Horjus?

SCORE: 46-35 New Zealand’s way

A huge third quarter for New Zealand has put them in the box seat to win this third Constellation Cup game. Don’t forget, if the Siver Ferns win here, they’ll win the trophy for just the third time in 14 series. They last held it in 2021.

In that 15-minute period they doubled the Diamonds score, 18-9. This is very unlike the Australian team. We’re expecting a fightback in this final quarter to come. What has Marinkovich got left up her sleeve?

Grace Nweke has just missed her first goal of the game with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. She’s gone almost 45 minutes without a blemish under the post. 34 goals secured for her team so far. That’s impressive!

The NSW Swifts must be licking their lips! As she’ll join their Super Netball ranks for season 2025.

The Diamonds have made a range of errors in this third quarter. Six turnovers in fact and the Silver Ferns are punishing that lacklustre play. Nweke nails five straight shots and the margin is blowing out heavily in the visitor’s favour. There’s five minutes left until the final break.

SCORE: 41-30 New Zealand’s way

The Aussies are getting a stern talking to in defence, particuarly Ellis and Price. Head coach Marinkovich decides it’s time for another switch-up and injects Sunday Aryang into WD with six and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Moving Price to centre to try and create that stronger defensive presence all the way up the court and trialling more of an offline style of defence against Poi.

The 22-year-old Kangaroo Island talent becomes Diamond #193 as she hit the court. The 46th South Australian to reprsent the country in netball. Let’s see how Georgie Horjus goes taking on that wing attack bib. Big shoes to fill as she replaces captain Watson in the midcourt.

Australia throw the ball over the baseline, but never fear, Rudi Ellis has maintained the GK bib entering the second-half and will not give up. Tussling with Nweke for space under the Silver Ferns post, she puts the shooter off the long, high feed meant for her in the circle and the ball – just like it did up Australia’s end – sails over the baseline. Throw-in for Ellis and this time the Diamonds convert.

SCORE: 31-27 New Zealand’s way

Kate Heffernan continues to disupt Liz Watson‘s plans. The pair had a couple of argy bargy moments in the second quarter, now Heffernan has frustrated the Diamonds wing attack and skipper once again as she flies high to steal the ball in the right-hand Australian pocket.

SCORE: 30-26 New Zealand’s way