Silver Ferns’ struggles intensify after Australia cruise to 2-0 Constellation Cup lead
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
At Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney: Australia 68 (Sophie Garbin: 33/39, Kiera Austin: 11/12, Georgie Horjus: 13/19, Cara Koenen: 11/15) Silver Ferns 51 (Grace Nweke: 37/43, Martina Salmon: 4/4, Georgia Heffernan: 10/11) 1Q: 19-13, HT: 30-28, 3Q: 51-37.
The Silver Ferns’ Constellation Cup defence is in tatters as the series heads back to New Zealand.
Australia delivered another blow to the ailing Ferns with a thumping 68-51 victory in Sydney on Wednesday to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
On this evidence, the formidable Diamonds could easily sweep the Ferns 4-0, which would be a crushing blow for Netball New Zealand amid the Dame Noeline Taurua coaching saga.
After winning by 17 goals in Melbourne, it was a near exact scoreline five days later, courtesy of a second half demolition.
Interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie and the Ferns’ players have plenty to stew over as the series moves back to New Zealand. Test three is in Hamilton on Sunday and the final match in Christchurch next Wednesday.
The Ferns would need to win both matches in New Zealand to force series decider time in Christchurch to determine the series winner.
That seems like a pipe dream for the Ferns right now.
They would have been chuffed to go into halftime down by two (30-28) after a dominant start from Australia, where they led by as many as seven goals.
Any chance of an upset Ferns’ win quickly evaporated early in the second half. The Diamonds outscored New Zealand 38-23 in a powerful second half showing.
Australia went on a 8-3 run to start the second half and before the Ferns could regather, they were chasing the game.
It was emphatic stuff from the Diamonds in the third quarter outscoring New Zealand by a whopping 21-9 margin to take control of the contest. The Ferns would have been furious they gifted Australia extra opportunities with the Diamonds grabbing 14 rebounds on the night, five from outstanding goal shoot Sophie Garbin.
Australia could do little wrong at either end of the court. The Ferns were helpless to stop the ball flying through to the Diamonds’ shooting end with Garbin converting 14 goals in the term.
On attack, the Ferns lacked rhythm and connection after their best quarter of the series in the second term.
After leaking 19 goals in the first quarter, the Ferns briefly lifted defensively.
Australia picked up where they left off in the first test, where they finished powerfully in Melbourne to pull away from the Ferns.
In front of a parochial soldout crowd at Qudos Bank Arena, Australia made a flying start. The goals were flowing with standout shooter Garbin again leading the way.
Generating turnover ball was tough for Silver Ferns defenders Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger, who could not stem the possession into Garbin and Kiera Austin.
Georgia Heffernan replaced Martina Salmon at goal attack to start the second quarter and she made an immediate impact.
With Grace Nweke regularly being double teamed by the Diamonds’ circle defenders, Heffernan had to stand up in the shooting end. She landed four of her first five attempts and created an impact.
Nweke was clearly annoyed with the physical battering she was copping and some of the ball she was receiving, looking frustrated for much of the half. She finished with 37 goals from 43 attempts, but it was tough going.
Australia led by as many as seven goals in the first half and threatened to pull away from the Ferns several times.
It was an inauspicious start to the game for the Ferns with Martina Salmon called for held ball on the team’s opening possession.
McCausland-Durie made a further change to begin the second half. Defender Parris Mason, who was not selected for the first test, entered the game at goal defence with skipper Burger sliding up to wing defence in place of Kate Heffernan.
Australia’s rapid start to the second half forced her to go back to her bench, quickly reintroducing Heffernan for Mason.
From there, it was all Australia who went a long way to winning the contest with an emphatic third quarter showing.
Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich was able to use her bench in the final quarter to keep her squad fresh ahead of the New Zealand leg.