Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The Silver Ferns are one win away from snapping a 16-year gold medal drought after prevailing over England to reach the Commonwealth Games final.
Undefeated in Glasgow, an undermanned New Zealand side triumphed 61-54 in a tense tussle over the Roses at the Hydro to book their spot in the final.
The top-ranked Diamonds will aim to join New Zealand in the final when they play Jamaica in the second semi-final, which begins 10pm AEST on Saturday.
The Silver Ferns haven’t won gold since the 2010 Delhi Games, where they defeated Australia to successfully defend their 2006 Melbourne title.
New Zealand have also been absent from the past two gold medal matches since finishing runners-up in 2014, the world No.2 settling for fourth in 2018 and bronze in 2022.
The perennial netball powerhouse consigned England to a similar fate in Glasgow, extending the 2018 Gold Coast champions’ chase for a second gold medal to the 2030 Ahmedabad Games.
But the Silver Ferns won’t be at full strength for Sunday’s final after highly-rated defender Catherine Hall ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during their pool victory over Wales.
Goal attack Georgia Heffernan also suffered an ankle injury against Wales, but played through soreness to help New Zealand beat England.
Heffernan fired off 9 goals from 10 attempts and provided 15 goal assists to support star shooter Grace Nweke, who finished with 52 goals from 57 attempts).
