The Silver Ferns have fallen agonisingly short of defending their Constellation Cup title in Christchurch.
New Zealand won the fourth test 62-57 – levelling the series 2-2 – but lost the extra time period 12-11 following an Australia goal in the final seconds.
The Ferns’ test win came after overcoming a six-goal halftime deficit with a 19-11 fourth-quarter effort.
Defender Catherine Hall made another huge impact, forcing numerous turnovers and playing through extra time.
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Shooter Grace Nweke was again dominant over Courtney Bruce, slotting 56 goals.
Grace Nweke slotted 56 goals for New Zealand. Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz Grace Nweke of the Silver Ferns during the Constellation Cup Netball match, New Zealand Silver Ferns Vs Australian Diamonds, at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand, 29th October 2025. Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
Skipper Karin Burger told Sky Sport it is disappointing to be edged at the death.
“A massive game for us and knowing we had to go into overtime – pretty much an extra half a game. We wanted to make sure we played our first game for what it was.
“That extra time obviously showed the rivalry between us and Australia. It was a great tussle, and unfortunately, it just didn’t go our way today.
“We’ve improved a lot from when we first started, and we know we’ve got a lot of improvement to go from here.”
The Ferns started with the same defensive pressure as they did in test three. Australia were penalised for a held ball on the opening play, and New Zealand eventually took an early two-goal lead.
The Nweke-Bruce physical battle continued with fierce intensity. At one point, Nweke put her shoulder into Bruce’s chest when she stood too close, sending her to the floor.
Goal keep Kelly Jackson returned to her exceptional best, snatching two early rebounds and routinely putting her body on the line in desperate scraps for possession.
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However, turnovers from centre Maddy Gordon, wing attack Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and goal attack Georgia Heffernan saw the Diamonds win the opening stanza, 17-12.
The Ferns forced a mistake off the Diamonds’ centre pass early in the second quarter. However, Australia’s defensive pressure kept the Kiwis’ midcourt and attacking end under threat.
New Zealand’s box defence was working, with the likes of Burger nabbing deflections, but few went to hand.
Australia captain Liz Watson was superb, boasting 15 feeds by halftime and barely putting a foot wrong.
Like in game one, the Ferns’ long passes into Nweke were working, but they struggled to move the ball to the circle edge.
Amelia Walmsley replaced Heffernan at goal attack, but struggled. She had an early miss and was penalised for contact as Nweke was shooting what would have been a valuable goal on Australia’s centre pass.
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The Diamonds won the second quarter 16-15 and extended their lead to 33-27 at halftime.
Coach Yvette McCausland-Durie rang changes at the break, with Catherine Hall going into GD, Burger to WD, Kate Heffernan to C and Maddy Gordon to WA.
It was arguably the Ferns’ best defensive quarter of the series. Kate Heffernan nabbed an early intercept, followed by two deflections from Hall. Walmsley also pitched in with a valuable ricochet, which fell into the arms of Burger.
Kate Heffernan barks orders to her teammates. Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz Kate Heffernan of the Silver Ferns and Kate Moloney of the Diamonds tussle for the ball during the Constellation Cup Netball match, New Zealand Silver Ferns Vs Australian Diamonds, at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand, 29th October 2025. Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
Australia goal shoot Sophie Garbin then missed twice in a row, with Hall grabbing the second rebound. Kate Heffernan made her second intercept, and Nweke converted to tie the scores at 37-37.
The Ferns conceded a turnover after Kate Heffernan left the court for Kimiora Poi, leaving Australia with a 46-43 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Jackson won three early turnovers for New Zealand, heaping pressure on Australia goal attack Keira Austin. They saw the Ferns take the lead for the first time since the opening quarter.
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The long passes into Nweke continued, and while their attack was at times scrappy, it was working. New Zealand surged into a three-goal lead.
With a third change at goal attack for the Diamonds, their shooters started to falter, with Garbin missing a regulation goal attempt and the Ferns’ lead stretching further.
New Zealand won the final quarter 19-11 to clinch the fourth test and force extra time.
After a 12-minute break, the two sides resumed battle.
Austin missed her first extra time attempt and New Zealand capitalised to take an early 3-0 lead. Sunday Aryang returned fire at the other end, and the Diamonds soon levelled things.
Gordon left the court with what looked to be a calf injury, bringing Reuelu-Buchanan back into wing attack.
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Nweke was penalised for stepping as she twisted to reel in a pass, leaving Australia with the 7-5 edge at the break.
Reuelu-Buchanan put a foot out of bounds on New Zealand’s first possession of the second period, and Australia’s lead moved out to four goals.
Jackson won a rebound, and New Zealand pulled two back. Reuelu-Buchanan made a crucial deflection, and the Ferns levelled it again at 11-11.
The Diamonds wound down the clock superbly and slotted the winning goal with just three seconds remaining, taking extra time 12-11.
Aryang had a late scare, falling awkwardly in a tussle with Nweke after the Ferns desperately flung the ball back up the other end of the court.
The Silver Ferns now turn to their Northern Tour against Scotland and England, starting against the Thistles on November 9 in Glasgow.
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New Zealand 62 – 57 Australia
Extra time: New Zealand 11 – 12 Australia
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.
Game three report
Just hours after Dame Noeline Taurua’s reinstatement as head coach, the Silver Ferns have produced a stunning 61-52 upset win over Australia in Hamilton.
The result keeps New Zealand’s Constellation Cup title defence alive. A win in game four in Christchurch on Wednesday will tie the series, forcing an extra time period.
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Skipper Karin Burger snatched three intercepts, goal shoot Grace Nweke dominated opposite Courtney Bruce in the circle – shooting 44 from 46 – and the Ferns’ attack through the midcourt was sharp.
Almost every Kiwi player had their best performance of the series, providing welcome relief after heavy losses in Australia.
“It just feels so nice,” Burger told Sky Sport post-match. “We play best when we’re playing for and with each other.
“You could see that in the defensive unit especially. We went back to what we know we do really well – working in a unit and staying nice and tight. It paid off for us.
“We looked really hard this week [at] what it looks like when they do have runs on us, and what our go-tos are.
“Having a crowd backing us this time made a massive difference. But we knew it had to come from inside.
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“That’s what I put out, I need to do my own work, give it my best shot and give the energy to those around me. It paid off for all of us, we fed off each others’ energy.”
The Ferns opened the first quarter hissing on defence, with the Diamonds taking almost a minute to find goal shoot Sophie Garbin from the centre pass.
However, basic catch and pass timing errors persisted, with New Zealand goal shoot Grace Nweke struggling for clean ball early.
Goal attack Georgia Heffernan picked up where she left off after a starring cameo in game two, providing a mostly reliable connection between centre Maddy Gordon and Nweke.
The Ferns’ attack improved from their early jitters. Wing defence Kate Heffernan and goal keep Kelly Jackson effected brilliantly timed deflections. The Ferns capitalised to reel in an early deficit and finish the quarter up 13-12.
New Zealand continued their hot streak in the second quarter, winning two early turnovers and scorching out to a six-goal lead before the Aussies could even find their attacking circle.
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The Diamonds looked rattled for the first time this series. One pass sailed out of bounds, and they were uncharacteristically penalised several times for stepping.
Australia picked off a couple of errant Kiwi passes and narrowed the margin to two goals. Amelia Walmsley came into goal attack for Heffernan and was penalised for a held ball, but made up for it moments later through some strong interchange play with Gordon.
Aussie substitute goal attack Sophie Dwyer slotted a buzzer-beating goal to keep the Diamonds just one goal behind, 29-28 at halftime.
The third quarter was New Zealand’s best of the series. Burger picked off three stunning intercepts, and Nweke continued to dominate under the hoop.
With Kimiora Poi at centre and Gordon shifting to wing attack, the Ferns’ offence looked a little more organised.
Kate Heffernan continued her strong form from game two, looping in a couple of eye-catching lobs to Nweke, who looked comfortable besting Diamonds goal keep Courtney Bruce in a one-on-one.
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The Ferns obliterated the Diamonds 20-11, for a 49-39 lead heading into the final stanza.
Substitute goal keep Catherine Hall had another eye-catching cameo, picking off an intercept and a couple of deflections.
Walmsley had a stint in goal shoot alongside Martina Salmon to finish, and looked comfortable.
With all the substitutions, the Diamonds edged the final quarter 13-12.
New Zealand 61 (Nweke 44, Walmsley 10, Heffernan 6, Salmon 1)
Australia 52 (Garbin 22, Austin 19, Dwyer 6, Koenen 5)
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