Australia reclaimed the Constellation Cup in historic scenes, but players were left in tears after their one-goal extra time win was soured by star Sunday Aryang’s serious injury.
The Diamonds defender bravely put her body on the line in front of Kiwi star Grace Nweke in the final second of play as Australia held a 12-11 lead before crashing heavily to the court.
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Aryang was clearly distressed as medical staff got to her aid and the match was called in Australia’s favour.
Diamonds teammates were left in tears and clearly devastated – as was Nweke herself as she was led away from the court.
It was a brutal end to what had been arguably the greatest-ever Test played between Australia and New Zealand, after the Diamonds blew a six-goal buffer in game four to send the series in an extra time decider.
The Silver Ferns had claimed a 62-57 win in stunning scenes in Christchurch, as players then left the court for a 12-minute break.
But once play resumed, it was New Zealand who lost two of their best in Maddy Gordon and Kate Heffernan to cramp.
While Heffernan was able to return to the contest late, Australia had already pulled ahead.
And after milking more than 30 seconds off the clock, they held on for a thrilling extra time 12-11 win to reclaim the Constellation Cup they lost for just the fourth time ever in 2024.
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KIWIS RALLY TO SEND SERIES INTO EXTRA TIME
Australia blew a six-goal buffer to sink to a tenth straight loss in New Zealand – and send the Constellation Cup into the first-ever Series Decider extra time.
The Silver Ferns stormed home to claim a 62-57 victory on Wednesday night at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch.
“We haven’t seen this before so it’s unprecedented,” former Diamond Kim Green said.
“They have to go back in, almost scrap what they’ve done, zero-zero and go again. It’s unbelievable.”
“They can’t dwell on it… this is not a heap of time to really move on from what was a disastrous final quarter for the Aussies,” Cath Cox added.
Silver Ferns force extra time decider! | 09:47
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich had backed in her same starting seven for the fourth straight match – and it paid off early with the Aussies opening up a six-goal halftime buffer.
Kiera Austin was the standout in the opening term eight goals and three assists, before partner-in crime Sophie Garbin took over in the second with 12 goals.
It was a patient Australian attack in that first half, repeatedly going backwards to avoid the crosscourt balls that were easily picked off in game three.
“This Australian attack end, for me it’s the angles and the placement and the timing – it’s making them pretty hard to stop at the moment,” Diamonds great Cath Cox praised.
Silver Ferns skipper Karin Burger drew unwanted umpire attention in that half when she was marched inside the circle for a deliberate obstruction when the Aussies made a fast break.
And down the other end, it was Sunday Aryang and Jamie-Lee Price causing problems for the Ferns’ attack.
Kiwi goal attack Georgia Heffernan went to the bench midway through the second term, but her replacement Amelia Walmsley had a horror few minutes.
Walmsley missed her opening shot, overcooked a ball to star shooter Grace Nweke and then provided the “coach killer” of coughing up the offensive contact on Ash Ervin (who replaced Bruce late in the quarter), just as Nweke had sunk the goal.
Walmsley was clearly rocked by what Kiwi commentators called a “50-50 call”, but it came just as the Ferns were building momentum – and the Aussies made them pay.
At the main break, it was Australia with one hand on the Constellation Cup, with a 33-27 lead.
But that was where Australia’s joy ended.
The Kiwis came storming home to outscore the Diamonds by 11 goals and force the series into an historic extra time decider.
It began with wholesale Kiwi changes to start the third – where just goal shooter Nweke (56/59) and goal keeper Kelly Jackson stayed in position.
The injection of Catherine Hall at goal defence proved a game changer for the Kiwis as the youngster had hands in everything.
Hall was proving a menace with four deflections and two gains in just 10 minutes of game time.
Her influence allowed the Kiwis to level scores late in the term before a few Courtney Bruce saves ensured it was Australia turning for home with a three-goal buffer.
But New Zealand found another gear once again as Kiera Austin (22/28 at 79% and five turnovers) coughed up ball repeatedly before heading to the bench early in the last quarter.
Georgie Horjus and Sophie Dwyer both rotated through the goal attack position for Australia but they could not penetrate the rock-solid Kiwi defence.
The Ferns went on to claim a five-goal win in the final Test to send the Constellation Cup into the Series Decider.
STARTING SEVEN
Australia: GS Garbin, GA Austin, WA Watson, C Moloney, WD Price, GD Aryang, GK Bruce
New Zealand: GS Nweke, GA G.Heffernan, WA Reuelu-Buchanan, C Gordon, WD K.Heffernan, GD Burger, GK Jackson
