Australia have cruised to a 61-goal win over Northern Ireland in their last match before finals at the Commonwealth Games.
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They’ll now meet rivals Jamaica in Saturday’s semi final with the winner to go through to the gold medal match.
But first they had to get through their clash with Northern Ireland unscathed.
The Warriors were no match for the world No.1 Diamonds in the 88-27 result in a match where star Cara Koenen stamped her claim for a starting spot with an incredible 57 goals at 98% in three quarters of game time.
She became just the fifth player this tournament to reach the magical 50-goal mark, with her efforts now equal best with Malawi’s Mwai Kumwenda – who also achieved her feat against Northern Ireland.
Fellow goaler Kiera Austin was the only Aussie not to get on court during Friday morning’s match, with young Georgie Horjus (5/7 goals) getting her first opportunity at goal attack.
Despite a wealth of on-court changes, triple international Cat Tuivaiti praised the “juggernaut” Australia were proving to be as they now go into finals unbeaten in the Pool stage.
“We built throughout that game – the girls came out firing at the start,” vice-captain Kate Moloney praised post-match.
“I think we’ve put ourselves in a really good position heading into these play-off games.
“When you play for the Diamonds, you always feel like you’ve got a little target on your back.
“We know it’s going to be hard – we’ll need to bring our best netball to beat anyone on the day.”
Australia’s Cara Koenen was a standout on Friday morning.Source: AP
It was a horror start for Northern Ireland as they were left “shell shocked” by the Diamonds, and then lost midcourter Evelyn McCagherty in bizarre scenes in the opening term.
It took almost three minutes for the Warriors to even find their first goal – and by then Australia already had seven.
Their match soured further when McCagherty literally ran off court midway through the quarter.
“She immediately looked at the bench, looked at her coaching staff and said I’ve got to go!” Sue Gaudion said.
“She’s just bolted out of the stadium!
“The medical staff have followed her; hopefully she’s OK.”
With Cara Koenen proving unstoppable for the Diamonds with 22 goals at 100% in the opening term, it was looking like a training run.
“They are looking defeated,” Gaudion said of the Warriors.
“They’re going to get an absolute bullet at quarter time.”
“And so they should,” Tuivaiti replied.
“Looking deflated – we haven’t even got through the first quarter!”
Highlighting Australia’s dominance was the stunning stat of 44 circle feeds compared to Northern Ireland’s nine in the opening quarter.
By the first change it was Australia holding a 27-6 buffer.
Michelle Magee came from the court with a back complaint.Source: SUPPLIED
The Warriors’ woes rolled on in the second with goal keeper Michelle Magee coming from the court with a back injury.
And while McCagherty was able to return to the sidelines, she sat away from teammates on the bench leaving only three fit players for Northern Ireland.
And the Diamonds cashed in.
At the main break, it was Australia leading 47-10. Notably, it was 47 goals at 100% for the Diamonds with Koenen nailing 40 of those.
Coach Stacey Marinkovich almost emptied her bench for the third, with Jamie-Lee Price and Courtney Bruce brought on in WD and GD, Kate Moloney onto centre and Sophie Garbin in goal shooter.
Only Kiera Austin remained on the sidelines as the Diamonds continued to press on.
It looked like Northern Ireland finally settled in this match, racking up as many goals in the opening seven minutes as they did the entire first quarter.
“It seems a bit more freedom! And they’ve drained a long bomb!” Cath Cox said as the Warriors found their first successive goals of the match.
Northern Ireland landed 12 goals in the third term – more than they had in the entire first half, but still trailed 66-22 at the final change.
Marinkovich turned back to what worked earlier in the contest with Koenen returned at GS and Matilda Garrett back at GD, while Kate Moloney shifted to WD, Price to C and Watson back at WA.
And just like the first half, the Diamonds punished at every opportunity.
Georgie Horjus saw her first minutes at goal attack this Commonwealth Games.Source: Getty Images
Georgie Horjus got her first minutes at GA in this Commonwealth Games, but couldn’t nail her first attempt.
She did land her first goal moments later in a moment Horjus has previously described as a “dream come true”.
The 61-goal win has left coach Marinkovich plenty to ponder for her starting seven heading into tomorrow’s semi final given the form of Koenen.
Sarah Klau finished the pick of the defenders with seven gains, including three intercepts.
STARTING SEVEN: GS Koenen, GA Dwyer, WA Horjus, C Watson, WD Weston, GD Garrett, GK Klau
10-PLAYER NEW ZEALAND MAKE HISTORY
Less than 24 hours after losing rising star Catherine Hall to a knee injury and Georgia Heffernan to an ankle concern, a 10-player New Zealand has made history at the Commonwealth Games with a big win over Trinidad and Tobago.
Despite having just three players on the bench, the Silver Ferns ran riot in their final pool match in Glasgow to rack up the highest-ever score against the Calypso Girls at a Commonwealth Games.
Their 83-23 victory is also the biggest scoreline between the two sides.
The New Zealand team celebrates after the end of their Pool B matches.Source: AP
“Turning up today and trying to give us everything they’ve got when there’s so much unknown, they did a really good job,” triple international Cat Tuivaiti said in commentary.
The Ferns piled on the pain in every quarter – only once failing to hit the 20-goal mark.
Despite the absence of Hall down back, the pairing of Kelly Jackson and Carys Stythe was unstoppable with a whopping 14 gains between them.
Grace Nweke starred with 34 goals in just a half, while Amelia Walmsley managed the same feat – but hers over the 60 minutes split between the two attacking positions.
“We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing,” vice-captain Kate Heffernan said after the win.
“Then take a big step up for finals – we’re looking forward to the next game.”
The Kiwis finish Pool B unbeaten at the top of the table.
They’ll play either England or South Africa in the semi finals with those two teams going head to head in the final match of the day.