Silver Ferns surrender Constellation Cup after heart-breaking extra-time loss to Australia

Wednesday, 29 October 2025

At Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch: Silver Ferns 62 (Grace Nweke: 56/59, Georgia Heffernan: 4/4, Amelia Walmsley: 1/2, Martina Salmon: 1/1) Australia 57 (Sophie Garbin: 29/35, Kiera Austin: 22/28, Sophie Dwyer: 5/5, Georgie Horjus: 1/2) 1Q: 12-17, HT: 26-33, 3Q: 43-46, FT: 62-57. (Australia win extra-time 12-11).

Australia showed why they are the benchmark of world netball to break Silver Ferns’ hearts.

In a netball contest for the ages, the Diamonds pipped the Ferns 12-11 in an extra-time thriller to seize back the Constellation Cup in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Grace Nweke of the Silver Ferns and Sarah Klau of the Australian Diamonds fighting for the ball.

The gritty Ferns set up the first ‘series decider time’ in Constellation Cup history after fighting back in the second half to win the fourth test 62-57 and level the series at 2-2.

After 74 minutes of netball, it took a Sophie Garbin goal with three seconds left to seal it for the Diamonds.

Australia passed the ball around for an age in the dying seconds, playing keep away for the Ferns, with Garbin then sinking the game-winner.

When the dust settles on this result, the Silver Ferns will look on with immense pride. They overcame a hellish last seven weeks with the Dame Noeline Taurua coaching saga, which was finally resolved on Saturday.

Taurua was reinstated as coach and when she officially steps back into the role, she will know this Ferns’ group are tracking in the right direction ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games.

The Silver Ferns forced series decider time after a remarkable second half performance, where they outscored Australia 35-24 after halftime.

Their 62-57 win in regulation piled on the misery for Australia, who have now lost 10 straight matches to the Ferns on New Zealand soil, dating back to March 2021.

New Zealand’s victory levelled the series at 2-2 and set up two seven-minute halves of extra-time to determine the who lifted the silverware.

The sides had 12 minutes of respite before extra-time started as the Christchurch crowd danced away, buoyed by the side’s resurgent second half.

The Ferns picked up where they left off in regulation, scoring the first three goals of extra-time. Australia regathered and at halftime in extra-time had pushed ahead 7-5.

In the tense moments of extra-time, the Diamonds held their nerve when it mattered most.

Kate Heffernan of the Silver Ferns and Kate Moloney of the Australian Diamonds tussle for the ball.

Just forcing extra-time was a heck of an effort from the Ferns, who trailed by seven at halftime (33-26) and who were outplayed in the first half by the hungry Diamonds.

To think New Zealand began the Constellation Cup with back-to-back 17 goals losses to the Diamonds in Australia. Their odds of defending the trophy looked dead in the water, or so it seemed.

Buoyed by their memorable 61-52 victory in Sunday’s third test, the Ferns dared to dream in Christchurch, knowing a win would level the series at 2-2 and force extra-time to determine the series winner.

A 13-5 onslaught to start the final quarter had the Silver Ferns rolling, leading 56-52.

The Ferns looked a different side in the second half, causing mayhem for the Diamonds with their defensive pressure and feasting from their turnovers.

Australia were rattled and had few answers. Nothing was going the Diamonds’ way with the goals piling on for the Silver Ferns.

Silver Ferns defender Kelly Jackson and Australia goal shoot Sophie Garbin tangle for possession in Christchurch.

With 10 minutes to go in regulation, the game was on a knife-edge with the score level at 49-49.

A Grace Nweke goal from a Sunday Aryang turnover put the Ferns ahead for the first time since the first quarter at 50-49.

The Ferns were staring at a seven-goal deficit (33-26) at halftime with the Diamonds vastly improved from Sunday’s forgettable showing in Hamilton.

It was a balanced shooting attack with Kiera Austin converting 12 goals in the first half, while Garbin slotted 21 from 24 after some early nerves.

Nweke carried the Ferns’ shooting load, scoring all but one of their 27 goals in the first half.

After picking up a steady supply of ball in Sunday’s momentous win, it was much tougher defensively for the Ferns.

Australia produced tidy, controlled netball, not being afraid to work it around and find the accurate ball into their shooters.

Intercepts and deflections did not come easy for the Ferns’ defenders.

Needing greater defensive ball to fight their way back into the match, Kate Heffernan scooped up an intercept to start the second half.

Interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie switched around her side at halftime in a bid to generate more turnovers, bringing on Catherine Hall at goal defence and pushing Karin Burger to wing defence.

The Wolfbrook crowd started to find their voice early in the second half with a 9-4 start to the second half trimming Australia’s lead to two (37-35).

A 16-13 third quarter from the Ferns gave them hope heading into the final term trailing the Diamonds by just three.

Australia would have been disappointed they allowed the Ferns to claw their way back into the game in the second half. In the pressure moments of the extra-time phase, though, they stood tall to seize the Constellation Cup, just.