Diamonds start hot as welcome to country drama hits Test

October 15, 2023
9:21 am

The match is historic given it’s the 500th Test match for the Diamonds.

Australia is looking to take a 2-nil series lead after winning the opening match 50-40. Follow our live updates below.

WELCOME TO COUNTRY WITHDRAWN

Netball Australia chief executive Kelly Ryan has committed to the sport “elevating and listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the sport” after performing the acknowledgement of country ahead of the Diamonds’ Constellation Cup clash.

While a traditional elder had been engaged to perform the official Welcome to Country, it’s understood they withdrew in the wake of the result of Saturday’s referendum.

Ryan instead addressed a packed house at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

“We had planned to open tonight’s match with a Welcome to Country, as has been a customary and integral part of netball. We acknowledge how difficult today is for First Nations people,” Ryan said before acknowledging the traditional custodians of Brisbane (Meanjin), the Jagera and Turrbal people.

“We commit to elevating and listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the sport of netball – our athletes, coaches, umpires, staff and volunteers.

“Netball Australia is proud of the role we must play in building a culture of equity, respect and recognition of the cultures, histories and contributions of all First Nations people who play and engage with our sport.”

QUARTER TIME – DIAMONDS LEAD BY FIVE

Australia is in a strong position after the opening quarter of the match despite the Silver Ferns scoring the final two goals of the term to claw their way back to within five goals at the opening break.

The Diamonds led by as many as seven late in the period before the Kiwis capitalised on a loose pass in the Aussie circle and made up some ground.

The teams went goal for goal in the early stages but the Diamonds were able to break away, again causing the Ferns grief with their suffocating defence.

But Grace Nweke has entered the court for the Ferns in what will be a massive boost to the team’s confidence in her first match back since injuring her knee at the World Cup.

AUSTRALIAN MEN SEAL VICTORY

Australia has sealed the men’s Test series against New Zealand with a 63-49 win in the second match at Brisbane.

After winning the opening game of the series in Melbourne, the Kelpies won the second Test with a dominant display at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane on Sunday night to retain the series.

It was only in the fourth quarter that the Kelpies pulled away from the Net Blacks though after winning by more than 30 goals in the opening match.

Goal attack Brodie Roberts, named player of the match, said it felt amazing to play in front of the Brisbane crowd.

“To come to a new state and win the cup, it doesn’t get any better,” said Roberts, who was a member of the national team that played for the first time ahead of the women in Melbourne last year and again on Thursday night.

“Just getting out there with the ‘Kelpies’ name for the first time and hearing people yell out: ‘Go Kelpies’ in the crowd, there’s no words.”

Kelpies captain Dylan Nexhip was proud of his team’s effort following on from Thursday night.

“To be able to come out here and claim the series, that’s what we’ve been working for and that’s what we really wanted,” he said.

“We knew that (New Zealand) were going to get lots of learnings from the least game and they really stepped it up.

“We’ve got trust in every single one of us out on court and we were able to do the job today.”

Net Blacks captain Junior Levi, the towering man-mountain who shouldered the scoring load for the Kiwis to keep them in the contest for much of the match, said he was proud of his side.

“We went back and had a lot of really hard talks and conversations about everyone’s efforts (after Thursday’s loss) – and more than anything tonight we put in an effort that we can all be proud of.”

DIAMONDS MAKE ONE CHANGE

Coach Stacey Marinkovich has made just one change to the Diamonds starting side for their historic 500th Test match in Brisbane.

Sunday Aryang comes into the line-up at wing defence in place of Jamie-Lee Price in the only change from the side that started the opening match of the Constellation Cup series in Melbourne.

Aryang was outstanding when injected into the side for the final quarter in Thursday’s opener, won 50-40 by the Diamonds.

There are no other changes to the starting side, with Cara Koenen and Kiera Austin to start as shooters, captain Liz Watson and Paige Hadley in the midcourt with Aryang and Jo Weston and Courtney Bruce at the defensive end to open game two at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Hadley, who limped from the court just before the quarter-time break in Melbourne after hyperextending her knee, will play her 50th Test for the Diamonds.

Price, Sophie Garbin, Sophie Dwyer, Kate Moloney and Sarah Klau will start on the bench.

New Zealand have also made one change, bringing Karin Burger in at goal defence in place of Phoenix Karaka, who started in Melbourne.

Karaka will line-up alongside Kelly Jury in defence, with Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Maddy Gordon and Kate Heffernan in the midcourt.

Young gun Amelia Walmsley will start at goal shooter again, with captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio to again bear much of the scoring and feeding responsibility.

But Grace Nweke has been included on the bench after missing game one entirely.

Nweke has been rehabbing a knee injury sustained at the World Cup and while initial reports suggested she would not return until the New Zealand legs of the series, from next week, her inclusion in the 12 today suggests she will appear at some stage.

Karaka, Tiana Metuarau, Grace Nweke, Whitney Souness and Jane Watson are on the bench.

Diamonds goaler Kiera Austin got the jump on Karaka in game one, the World Cup final MVP helping the Diamonds gain the upper hand in the second quarter after a close start to the match.

A win in the second game of the series would all but seal the four-match series, although it would not guarantee the tournament win.

Australia regained the Cup last year despite losing the opening two games of the series in New Zealand and Marinkovich will have her troops on high alert, expecting a fightback from the world no.2.

AUSSIE MEN CRUSH KIWIS