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New Zealand have introduced Commonwealth Video games gold medal winners Australia right down to Earth with a 56-48 opening Constellation Cup win in Auckland.
Key factors:
- Silver Ferns’ goalshooter Grace Nweke starred, with 40 targets from 42 makes an attempt
- New Zealand slotted 11 unanswered targets in a seven-minute sizzling streak within the first quarter
- The sequence heads to Tauranga on Sunday, earlier than returning to Australia subsequent week
Returning to motion for the primary time since Birmingham, the Diamonds have been blunted by Noeline Taurua’s dynamic Silver Ferns on Wednesday night time.
The Silver Ferns gained it early, slotting 11 targets with out reply in a brutal seven-minute first quarter streak.
Led by all-action goalshooter Grace Nweke (40 of 42), New Zealand had winners all throughout the courtroom, with aim defence Phoenix Karaka making a surprising six intercepts, wing assault Peta Toeava indefatigable and keeper Kelly Jury making seven beneficial properties.
New Zealand started their match-winning run down 6-8, when a mix of Australian penalties, botched passes and taking pictures errors allowed the Kiwis to surge to 17-8.
Of the streak, the final aim was essentially the most spectacular, with Toeava spearing a centimetre-perfect ball from mid-court for Nweke to shoot cleanly.
New Zealand stifled Australia within the mid-court, forcing captain Liz Watson into rushed decision-making and uncharacteristic errors.
Australian shooters Cara Koenen (21 of twenty-two) and Steph Wooden have been out of sync contained in the circle, whereas on the different finish, Nweke and captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio ran riot.
Ekanasio (16 of 19) — on return after giving start to her second baby — had big crowd help, however Nweke shone brighter, netting 12 first-quarter targets for a 20-9 quarter-time lead.
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich rang the modifications, benching error-prone goalkeeper Sarah Klau and Wooden earlier than half-time, ultimately utilizing 4 off her bench.
New aim assault Kiera Austin (9 of 14) did not fare a lot better, however replacements Sunday Aryang and Jamie-Lee Value at aim defender and centre made an affect.
The Diamonds shaved the deficit to eight at half-time, and three late within the third, earlier than the Silver Ferns steadied for a 42-36 at three-quarter time lead.
Any hopes of an Australian comeback have been dashed by a pair of beautiful turnovers by Karaka, one from properly behind the courtroom, because the Black Ferns consolidated their lead.
Earlier, a historic males’s netball worldwide curtain-raiser was gained by Australia over New Zealand 64-48, with Australian aim assault Brodie Roberts (27 of 30) finest afield.
The Constellation Cup sequence strikes now to Tauranga for sport two on Sunday, earlier than concluding video games in Melbourne and Gold Coast subsequent week.
AAP
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