The Diamonds have maintained their dominance over England by wrapping up their netball Test series with a thumping 69-56 victory in game three. The world champions were staring down the barrel of their first series loss to the Red Roses following a shock 61-59 defeat in game two. But they turned up the heat in front of a sell-out crowd in Bendigo to keep their unbeaten record intact with Sophie Garbin finishing with 43 goals from 47 attempts to steer the home side to the convincing victory.
Returning defender Jamie-Lee Price also put her physical stamp on the game. Following a 13-goal win in the first Test in Adelaide, Price was left out of the second match in Sydney with coach Stacey Marinkovich starting with Amy Parmenter at wing defence. But with the series on the line, she recalled the 28-year-old who unsettled England through the midcourt.
After a seven-goal run for Australia to take a 23-14 lead early in the second quarter, England coach Jess Thirlby replaced wing attack Lois Pearson with debutante Jess Shaw. The youngster showed no fear taking on Price, with the pair getting into a tangle and the Australian receiving an official warning from the umpire for her actions. A second offence meant Price could have been sent to the sidelines for two minutes, but she managed to avoid that penalty.
While the tourists rallied late in the second quarter, the Diamonds hung on to a 30-24 halftime lead. Garbin was unstoppable after the break, slotting 14 goals from 14 attempts to ensure her team won their first third quarter of the series to take a commanding 50-42 lead. Her star shooting partner Kiera Austin was also a handful both in attack and defence, finishing with 24 goals and two intercepts and was named player of the match as well as player of the series.
But well aware of England’s late charge in Sydney, when they outscored the home side by four goals in the final term to take the win, the Australians kept the pressure on. While England’s shooter Liv Tchine missed only one goal from 40 attempts, they were not able to close the margin with the Diamonds cruising home.
The Diamonds’ Dominance
The Diamonds’ third Test win equalled the margin in their 13-goal win in the opening Test in Adelaide last Thursday and sets the team up strongly for their next international assignment against the Silver Ferns in October. Roses’ star goaler Helen Housby declared all the pressure was on Australia leading into the series decider and the Diamonds’ responded to turn up the intensity on the visitors in front of 4032 at Bendigo Stadium.
A Commanding Performance from Kiera Austin
Working beautifully in tandem with her Melbourne Vixens’ teammate Sophie Garbin in the goal circle, Austin was named player of the match and player of the three-Test series. Austin finished the match with 24 goals from 29 attempts, driving the Diamonds’ attack as she continued to take her international game to another level. Garbin had 43 goals from 47 attempts, while England goal shooter Liv Tchine dominated the scoring for the Roses (39/40), with Housby scoring 15/17.
A Glimpse into the Future
The Diamonds led by eight goals leading into the final quarter, but were able to consolidate to score another commanding win. Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich didn’t make a change to her line-up until late in the third quarter, while England coach Jess Thirlby rang the changes in the mid-court in the second quarter and in defence in the third quarter in a bid to get back into the game. After mixing up her starting line-up for the second Test, Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich reverted to the same seven she started with in the big opening Test win.
Garbin started back at goal shooter, Jamie-Lee Price at wing defence and Paige Hadley in centre. Garbin provided a strong target under the ring and her rapport with Austin in the goal circle helped get the Diamonds’ off to a strong start. The Diamonds only made two changes late in the fourth quarter, bringing on Sophie Dwyer to rest Austin, while Kate Moloney came on to huge applause in place of Paige Hadley.
The Roses mixed up their midcourt rotations, while Razia Quashie was brought on at goal keeper as Fran Williams to goal defence in a bid to quell Austin’s impact. While the Roses were hit hard when experienced goal shooter Eleanor Cardwell was ruled out for the rest of the series after the opening game through injury, Tchine has more than stood up in her place. Tchine proved herself to be a dominant target under the post and her accuracy in the decider could not be faulted. It followed her 32 goals from 34 attempts in the second Test win.
Liz Watson’s Milestone
Australian captain Liz Watson brought up another milestone as Diamonds captain on Wednesday night against England. The star wing attack equalled champion Australian goal shooter Vicki Wilson on 42 for the second-most Tests as Diamonds captain. The pair sit behind Michelle den Dekker, who played the most Tests as Diamonds’ skipper on 71. Watson, who has 23 goal assists and 39 feeds, was the only Diamonds’ player to play every minute of the whole Test series against the Roses.
Looking Ahead: Constellation Cup
The Diamonds will welcome back some familiar names, while a new player continues a sparkling run with selection in the squad for the Constellation Cup series in Australia and New Zealand. The Diamonds have hit back at the Roses’ suggestion that they’re under pressure heading into Wednesday night’s deciding match against England, despite a loss would handing them their first series loss in years. England has shocked Australia with a second half burst from their next-gen to claim their first win in Sydney since the 1980s, with the Roses firing a warning to the Diamonds ahead of the next World Cup. England has suffered a massive blow after losing one of their best shooters and big-game performers for the final two games of the series against the Diamonds. Australia can wrap up victory in its three-Test series against England with a win in the second Test in Sydney on Sunday but the Diamonds can’t allow the Roses to put the brakes on their slick play.
What’s Next for the Diamonds?
The Diamonds will have a two week break before they take on the New Zealand Silver Ferns in the annual Constellation Cup from October 20. The series will be a crucial test for the Diamonds as they look to build towards the 2027 Netball World Cup. The Diamonds will be looking to avenge their 2023 Constellation Cup loss to the Silver Ferns. With a strong squad and a clear focus on the future, the Diamonds are poised to continue their dominance on the international stage. The Diamonds’ victory over England is a clear sign that they are a force to be reckoned with, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in the years to come.
A New Era for Netball?
World Netball holds its showcase event once every four years, but knows this is too long between drinks. Its president opens up on future event plans, the Commonwealth Games, Brisbane Olympics and more. The Diamonds’ victory over England is a clear sign that they are a force to be reckoned with, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in the years to come. This is a new era for netball, and the Diamonds are leading the way.
