Australia's Caitlin Bassett. Picture: Rob Jefferies Source: Getty Images
UPDATE: THE Australian Diamonds took advantage of a clumsy New Zealand to snap a five-game losing streak and triumph 47-45 in the second Constellation Cup Test in Auckland last night.
Playing with more intensity and confidence than the opening Test when beaten in Invercargill on Sunday, the Diamonds overcame several lapses to claim their first victory since the win over England in October.
"After Sunday we had to pull our finger out," Diamonds captain Laura Geitz said. "On Sunday we did not play as a team and were individuals out on court. The passion was also not there and we felt sluggish.
"This is a new group and this week we spent a lot of time chatting about having the belief we had the right girls."
As expected, Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander started with Bianca Chatfield at goal defence and her ability to quell dangerous Silver Ferns goaler Maria Tutaia had a huge influence on the outcome. Tutaia nailed just 20 of her 30 attempts.
Natalie Medhurst was the preferred option at goal attack, youngster Kim Ravaillion started at centre and Kim Green was used at wing attack.
The Silver Ferns had the early accendency, only to cough up seven unanswered goals to the visitors and allow the Diamonds to grow in confidence.
The scores were locked together at quarter time before the Diamonds, moving the ball with authority and on top in defence, surged to a seven-goal advantage. The Silver Ferns regained composure to level the
scores at half time before the Diamonds again gained the high ground to lead 36-31 at three-quarter time.
The Silver Ferns wasted plenty of chances to put the match back on an even keel in the final quarter and even the normally reliable Laura Langman was guilty of costly turnovers.
"The defensive end felt comfortable and we felt like we were winning the ball," Geitz said. "The pressure applied out the front by Rav (Ravaillion) and Renae (Hallinan) made our job easier."
"After Sunday we had to pull our finger out," Diamonds captain Laura Geitz said. "On Sunday we did not play as a team and were individuals out on court. The passion was also not there and we felt sluggish.
"This is a new group and this week we spent a lot of time chatting about having the belief we had the right girls."
As expected, Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander started with Bianca Chatfield at goal defence and her ability to quell dangerous Silver Ferns goaler Maria Tutaia had a huge influence on the outcome. Tutaia nailed just 20 of her 30 attempts.
Natalie Medhurst was the preferred option at goal attack, youngster Kim Ravaillion started at centre and Kim Green was used at wing attack.
The Silver Ferns had the early accendency, only to cough up seven unanswered goals to the visitors and allow the Diamonds to grow in confidence.
The scores were locked together at quarter time before the Diamonds, moving the ball with authority and on top in defence, surged to a seven-goal advantage. The Silver Ferns regained composure to level the
scores at half time before the Diamonds again gained the high ground to lead 36-31 at three-quarter time.
The Silver Ferns wasted plenty of chances to put the match back on an even keel in the final quarter and even the normally reliable Laura Langman was guilty of costly turnovers.
"The defensive end felt comfortable and we felt like we were winning the ball," Geitz said. "The pressure applied out the front by Rav (Ravaillion) and Renae (Hallinan) made our job easier."
