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Irene van Dyk stretches for the ball against Australia - Source: Photosport -
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Follow the action in the opening clash of the Constellation Cup series between the Silver Ferns and Diamonds in Melbourne.
FOURTH QUARTER
0:00 Australia 52-54 NZ
And that's it - Tutaia puts up the final shot with a wee smile on her face, knowing the win is safe.
0:48 Australia 51-54 NZ
Tutaia scores and that should seal it for the Kiwis.
1:26 Australia 51-53 NZ
Bassett scores - it's goal for goal! Who will break first?
3:40 Australia 48-50 NZ
There are too many turnovers to keep up with, but Australia finally get the ball into the circle to maintain the two-goal deficit. It's coming down to the wire - again!
4:57 Australia 47-49 NZ
But the Aussies take it right back again and the flames
shoot into the air at Hisense
.
5:53 Australia 45-49 NZ
Harrison rises high for an intercept to break back.
6:48 Australia 45-47 NZ
Bassett goals again.
7:40 Australia 44-47 NZ
Langman overpasses to van Dyk and Australia have several bites at the cherry, before Bassett finally goals to break the advantage.
8:11 Australia 42-47 NZ
The Diamonds have now scored two in a row and threatening to erode this lead, but van Dyk goals to stop the rot and Chatfield needs some attention so her team can regroup. The entry of Bassett hasn't had the immediate impact.
10:39 Australia 40-46 NZ
De Bruin is all over Bassett on this occasion and forces the turnover, as her rival goes tumbling. Tutaia capitalises at the other end.
12:23 Australia 39-43 NZ
The Diamonds get the break right back again and Bassett is towering above the NZ defence.
14:07 Australia 36-42 NZ
Bassett comes off the Aussie bench to replace Cox, but is immediately called for pushing off and NZ get the break. Corletto is also back in the line-up.
THIRD QUARTER
0:00 Australia 36-41 NZ
Australia are desperately trying to get the ball up on attack before the quarter ends, but Grant comes up with the turnover and Tutaia is successful to end the spell. New Zealand are five goals up, but history shows that hasn't always been enough in these trans-Tasman encounters.
1:15 Australia 35-40 NZ
Van Dyk misses her first shot of the game, but gathers the rebound and slots it from closer.
3:12 Australia 33-38 NZ
Van Dyk makes a ridiculous sprawling dive to salvage a ball heading out of bounds and it rebounds to Langman, who feeds Tutaia for the goal. Things seem to be falling the Ferns' way.
4:33 Australia 33-35 NZ
NZ can't handle the ball under the goal and give Australia the break, which Cox converts. The Kiwis then turn it over again, but Harrison makes an intercept to restor the balance.
5:55 Australia 31-35 NZ
Cox misses from out in front and Grant grabs the rebound. Immediately, time is called for de Bruin to have some treatment on a calf. That's never good news for a netballer, so don't be surprised to see Cullen come on soon. Meanwhile, Bell comes on at goal attack, replacing Medhurst.
8:16 Australia 29-33 NZ
There are a lot of turnovers, perhaps expected in the
first game of a series, and the winners will be the team that can
take advantage. Van Dyk maintains her perfect shooting (17/17) and
then Tutaia stretches the lead to four again.
10:45 Australia 29-30 NZ
But the Ferns hand the break right back and Cox connects
twice to close within one.
12:51 Australia 26-30 NZ
Harrison lurks and pounces from the backcourt to
intercept. Van Dyk goals to effect a break and then Tutaia converts
off the NZ pass-off to stretch the gap to four.
14:30 Australia 25-26 NZ
No changes for NZ, but Geitz comes off the bench for
Corletto. Australia immediately goal off theirown centre
pass-off.
SECOND QUARTER
0:0 Australia 24-26 NZ
Cox goals to bring the score within two and in an effort
to get their margin of three back, the Ferns throw long and into
the hands of the Aussie defence. Fortunately, they don't have
enough time to take advantage and halftime arrives with the
visitors two goals up.
1:20 Australia 22-25 NZ
But finally NZ get the break and van Dyk goals to make
the advantage three.
2:51 Australia 22-22 NZ
Plenty of turnovers, but not much to show for them.
Medhurst goals long from near the edge of the area to even the
scores again.
6:08 Australia 19-20 NZ
Gerrard took a spill in a collison with Tutaia a few
plays ago and now the umpire allows her a timeout to tend to her
wounds, which seems to be a foot/ankle injury. Nothing major and
probably a chance for her team to regroup.
6:37 Australia 19-19 NZ
De Bruin makes a breathtaking interception, but Tutaia
misses her shot at goal and Cox maintains the status quo at the
other end.
10:23 Australia 16-16 NZ
It's goal for goal, right now.
13:48 Australia 12-12 NZ
Medhurst levels off the Australian centre pass.
14:39 Australia 11-12 NZ
Corletto makes a big play on defence as Tutaia attempts
to feed van Dyk and Cox gets one back at the other end.
FIRST QUARTER
0:0 Australia 10-12 NZ
Well, great recovery from the Ferns, who were trailing by
three at one point, but outscored their rivals 6-1 in the final
five minutes. Van Dyk is still shooting 100% (9/9) and her ability
to receive the ball under the goal is key, whereas the Aussie
shooters have been forced out a little in their range.
1:39 Australia 9-10 NZ
After much to-ing and fro-ing, the Kiwis finally level
through Tutaia and then take a lead off their own centre pass.
4:11 Australia 9-8 NZ
Lees intercepts in midcourt and Tutaia goals to break the
Aussie advantage, but NZ hand that advantage right back.
5:27 Australia 9-6 NZ
Cox converts off the Australian centre pass to stretch
the margin to three.
6:15 Australia 8-6 NZ
Both sides have turned the ball over, but neither has
been able to take advantage until now. Lees throws the ball out at
the attack end and Cox converts for the first two-goal
difference.
10:11 Australia 5-4 NZ
Tutaia's first shot is the first miss of the game,
but the Ferns defence do their job and prevent the
Aussies from taking advantage.
13:10 Australia 2-1 NZ
Lees is called offside for the first turnover of the
game, but luckily Corletto hands it right back.
14:00 Australia 1-1 NZ
Von Bertouch has the opening pass-off and Cox goals first with a shot that spins around the goal, then in. Van Dyk replies at the other end.
The two coaches have named their starting line-ups and Taumaunu has gone for a midcourt combination of Lees (WA)/Laura Langman (C)/Harrison (WD), with van Dyk and Tutaia shooting, and de Bruin and Grant in the defensive circle.
Captain Casey Williams has apparently pulled up a little lame this morning with a knee injury and is being rested as a precaution. That's a setback, but New Zealand has some depth in this area right now and still has Kayla Cullen on the bench.
The Aussies have gone with Cox (GS), Medhurst (GA), Green (WA), von Bertouch (C), Gerrard (WD), Corletto (GD) and Chatfield (GK) - that's strong, with some formidable subs waiting to come on too.
The Hisense Arena is sold out - 10,500 fans crammed in!
I guess that NZ line-up means we won't see the Harrison Hoist, at least in the early stages.
PRE-GAME
Despite the PR spin, there's still only one international netball match-up worth watching and this is it.
When these two teams are motivated and at full strength, they play netball how it's meant to be played. Australia are the world champions, but only in added time, and the really important encounters between these two tend to be very close affairs, often decided by just a couple of goals.
Being the first game of a three-game series, this may not be one of those times. NZ coach Wai Taumaunu has been at pains to downplay the result, choosing to focus on performance and using this as a "benchmark" to improve on in upcoming fixtures.
Compared to the very deep Australian squad, the Ferns tend to rely on a few top-class players and sometimes it takes a while for them to find their groove.
The Kiwis look well set at both ends of the court with captain Casey Williams anchoring a versatile rotation of Katrina Grant, Leana de Bruin, Anna Harrison and Kayla Cullen. The addition of Jodi Brown in the shooting circle should complement incumbents Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia and Catherine Latu.
The big question mark hangs over the midcourt, where Taumaunu is still trying to find the successor to Temepara George, who retired after last year's world championships.
This clash will take place at Melbourne's Hisense Arena, which still holds fond memories for members of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic that won the ANZ Championship final on this same court two months ago.
But if you're hoping that historic victory marks a changing of the guard in trans-Tasman netball, this game looms as a chance for the Aussies to avenge that result. They HATE losing to their little brothers and sisters across the ditch, and should be breathing fire as they run out for the opening pass-off.
Australia: Caitlin Bassett, Erin Bell, Madison Browne, Rebecca Bulley, Bianca Chatfield, Julie Corletto, Catherine Cox, Kimberlee Green, Laura Geitz, Mo'onia Gerrard, Natalie Medhurst, Natalie von Bertouch (C).
New Zealand: Jodi Brown, Kayla Cullen, Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Anna Harrison, Laura Langman, Cathrine Latu, Camilla Lees, Bailey Mes, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams (C).