Maddy Gordon of Silver Ferns catches the ball during game three of the Constellation Cup series. Photo / Photosport Maddy Gordon of Silver Ferns catches the ball during game three of the Constellation Cup series. Photo / Photosport
The Ferns’ troubles were offset by their hustle in the midcourt, particularly from Gordon and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, plus another typically dogged showing from defenders Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger.
Skipper Burger told Sky Sport they have been working so hard.
“You could see it out there; the hunger was really there. We knew Aussie was going to bring it and they definitely did, especially on their home soil.
“We’re so happy we got that game, but we’ve got one more to go.”
Burger credited her coach for the way they have adapted at key moments.
“That’s just coach extraordinaire, Noels, knowing exactly what her players can do and what’s needed in that moment of time.”
Taurua opted to start Reuelu-Buchanan at wing defence alongside Kate Heffernan and Gordon in the midcourt, with Kimiora Poi on the bench.
Australia coach Stacey Marinkovich changed her shooting circle to Sophie Garbin and the zippy Georgie Horjus at goal attack.
In a major disruption for the Diamonds, Kate Moloney went off with a finger injury due to an early clash with Kate Heffernan. It shifted goal attack Horjus into the midcourt and Sophie Dwyer into goal attack.
As they had all series, the Silver Ferns started strongly with a 4-1 lead, but an early miss from Georgia Heffernan saw the Diamonds tighten things up.
The man-on defence from the hosts forced New Zealand to look back into their defensive third, with Nweke coming out of the circle to receive a pass and then missing the shot.
The Ferns shooting end looked a little rattled, with Grenvold picking off a feed from the usually reliable Georgia Heffernan into Nweke. The New Zealand shooter then failed to reel in Georgia Heffernan’s next feed, which spilled over the baseline.
Amy Parmenter of the Australia Diamonds catches the ball during Game 3 of the Constellation Cup series. Photo / Photosport
An errant pass from Georgia to twin Kate Heffernan resulted in another turnover as they struggled to work the ball to the circle edge, the Diamonds’ defensive pressure making every pass a challenge. Georgia Heffernan was swiftly benched by Taurua in favour of Selby-Rickit.
The veteran goal attack missed her first attempt on the stroke of quarter time, giving Australia a 15-11 lead at the break. It marked the first time in nine games New Zealand trailed after one quarter.
The Ferns conceded their opening centre pass of the second quarter while trying to find Nweke, but Jackson won the ball back at the other end after Garbin put her foot on the baseline.
Some energetic work from Courtney Bruce in the circle forced Selby-Rickit into a held ball, but Australia again encountered the baseline up the other end. Bruce and Grenvold looked to doubleteam Nweke as the Ferns fed the ball, with Bruce swapping onto Selby-Rickit when necessary.
Amy Parmenter picked off a turnover from the Ferns’ midcourt, but a Garbin miss kept New Zealand within two.
Sarah Klau subbed on for Bruce at goal defence. Meanwhile, the Silver Ferns attacking end started to find their rhythm, feeding Nweke more easily.
Dwyer turned down the opportunity from range and Garbin missed, with the rebound going the Ferns’ way. Jackson and Burger effected a second consecutive steal, and Selby-Rickit slotted a long-ranged attempt to tie proceedings at 26-26 at halftime, after a 15-11 second quarter win.
Poi came into wing attack for the Ferns in the third quarter, shifting Gordon to centre and Kate Heffernan to the bench.
Selby-Rickit missed an early sitter but Reuelu-Buchanan won the ball back for the Ferns in the midcourt as the sides went blow-for-blow.
Grenvold nabbed her fourth gain, intercepting a sloppy Nweke pass to Gordon as the shooter looked to reposition in the circle.
Poi was then warned for unnecessary contact on Parmenter after the Aussie midcourter hit the floor on the transverse line.
Georgia Heffernan returned to the goal attack bib for Selby-Rickit, with Kate Heffernan replacing Reuelu-Buchanan at wing defence moments later.
Nweke dropped a long-range feed from Gordon over the baseline and Australia cemented their advantage, with a lead of five.
Again, the Ferns’ midcourt and defensive end kept them in the contest, winning stops and drawing them back within two. Australia edged the third quarter 15-13 for a 41-39 overall lead heading into the final stanza.
Grenvold clearly had the better of Nweke, with the latter conceding offensive contact and the former picking off a turnover in the following sequence. The physicality ramped up, with several players colliding in the opening two minutes.
Garbin wobbled and missed her first fourth quarter attempt, with Burger pouncing on the rebound. Nweke continued to struggle up the other end, missing twice early, but secured rebounds and helped New Zealand to a 4-0 start.
Both goal attacks were changed, with Selby-Rickit and Australia’s Kiera Austin joining the contest.
The Diamonds’ attack misfired again, with another Gordon deflection piling pressure on the hosts. The Ferns took a 7-0 lead to start the fourth and a five-goal lead overall. When Austin slotted Australia’s first goal of the final quarter, almost six and a half minutes had elapsed.
Gordon fell awkwardly after another midcourt collision but courageously carried on.
The Diamonds refused to go away. The hosts’ defence tightened again and the Ferns were forced to work hard to find the circle edge. Aussie turnovers saw them level proceedings at 47-47 with a run of five consecutive goals.
Then the error came. Horjus was pinged for offensive contact and suddenly the game was there to be won if they could close out the final seconds. Nweke was bashed to the ground again, but secured the two-goal lead, stretched to three moments later. The Silver Ferns won the final quarter 13-8.
The fourth and final test is in Melbourne on Wednesday, with New Zealand having already declared their intention to win the series 4-0.
In the second test, New Zealand convincingly beat Australia 62-50, winning three quarters.
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.