Live: Diamonds struggling against Silver Ferns in first Test

Isn’t it crazy! Seems like there’s a lot of head noise for the Diamonds but we also know they haven’t won in NZ since 2021 and in Auckland apparently since 2019. There’s a serious hoodoo going on and good on New Zealand for showing up the way they have today. Backing up their gold medal in Glasgow.

On the transverse line, Austin has a crack at a ball that was meant to reset the New Zealand attack. She sticks her hand out and deflects the ball into the clutches of Price. The Aussies convert the opportunity and edge another back with their next centre pass.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 44-33

Sarah Klau’s inclusion in this match has divided netball fans but nonetheless she is on at GD with roughly five minutes left to go before the final break. Every single player for the Diamonds has now had a run on court.

Things are just going from bad to worse for the Diamonds. They are scrambling. There are errors happening right across the court. It is not coherent netball. Garbin tries to push free and find some space off the body of Jackson but it’s spotted by the umpire.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 42-27

We spoke to soon … New Zealand reassert themselves in the contest. Australia responds by re-injecting Austin in the game at GA to shoot alongside her Vixens teammate Garbin. Dwyer heads to the bench right before the halfway point of the quarter.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 39-25

Can we mount a comeback? More changes have happened in the break to Australia’s line-up. Sophie Garbin gets her first minutes at goal attack, while Price finally does move into centre sending the Aussie captain to the bench. They’re making a difference already as the Diamonds score three goals in a row to begin the third quarter.

Meanwhile, NZ have also tinkered with their team. They’re trialling some new options while they have such a big hold on the game. Kate Heffernan rolls into centre, where we’ve seen her dominate throughout the Super Netball season for the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Reuelu-Buchanan is now in WD. Selby-Rickit plays her first match for the Silver Ferns in years as she dons the GA bib.

SCORE: New Zealand leads 32-25

Doesn’t Jessie look great in green and gold! Even the Diamonds social media admin were so excited to see her hit the court they’ve made a minor spelling error! Let’s hope she can turn it around and win some ball back against the powerhouse that is Nweke.

The Diamonds are well and truly spooked in the circle. Koenen misses her attempt at goal and within seconds the ball is being sent through New Zealand’s net by Nweke. The speed of this game is incredible.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 31-20

The 192 cm goal keeper is having a field day! Intercepting Watson‘s ball on the sideline that was meant for Dwyer. She read that like a book.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 29-20

The newest Diamond on court makes her presence known. The team converts her efforts to edge one back on the scoreboard.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 25-19

Just under six minutes before half-time and Parmenter comes off the bench into WD. Price to the bench.

It’s a significant goal in Dwyer‘s career. Her first since missing that final attempt in the Commonwealth Games semi.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 25-17

Kate Heffernan sets up Nweke for New Zealand’s first goal of the quarter. The ball is piffed in way from the transverse line to their tall target underneath the post. The two handed overhead pass sails right over Bruce‘s head.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 16-10

A scoreboard issue inside the arena delayed the teams coming back on court but it has been fixed and the second quarter is now underway. Neither team has made a substitution yet. So Marinkovich is backing her starting seven to turn this around.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 15-10

With two minutes left, the passes are only getting faster and longer between Silver Ferns teammates.

SCORE: New Zealand lead 13-7