Netball win eases Wallabies loss

New Zealand's Sheryl Scanlan (L) and Australia's Sharelle McMahon compete for the ball during yesterday's test in Invercargill. Photo / Getty Images

A frisson of fellow-feeling for the Wallabies following their 6-33 drubbing by the All Blacks in Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test added an extra edge for Australia when they took on the Silver Ferns in the fourth netball test at Stadium Southland in Invercargill yesterday.

In a match characterised by a series of Silver Ferns comebacks, the Diamonds held on for a slender 47-46 win after leading 25-22 at halftime in front of a vocal and parochial crowd.

"We had to make up for last night's loss to the All Blacks," Australian coach Norma Plummer said only half seriously. "I did feel a bit for the boys."

The Diamonds showed far more tenacity and fight than their male counterparts, battling the Silver Ferns each time they launched a series of comebacks and digging deep to steal a vital last-minute turnover which secured the game.

The win puts the Australians up 3-1 in the five tests between the perennial rivals this year, and leaves the Silver Ferns with only pride to play for in the final match in Auckland on Wednesday.

Plummer has been left more than happy with the way her side have stepped up following two first-up lack-lustre losses, 43-52 to a combined World 7 and 50-53 to the Silver Ferns in the first test in Sydney two weeks ago.

There was, she admitted, still plenty to work on, especially after a fourth quarter which saw New Zealand come perilously close to stealing the game.

"For three quarters we moved that ball fantastically - the speed of the ball really helped us out," Plummer said afterwards. "But then we got a little bit bogged down in the last quarter, making a couple of those junior errors, which you don't make at that time, but we'll address that."

With long-term goals of wresting New Zealand's Commonwealth Games gold off them next year, and defending their world title in 2011, Plummer was well pleased with the growth and potential shown by her team over the last three weeks.

"There'll be no surprises by the time we get to Commonwealth Games or world championships, it was all out on that court and I think that's sensational."

- NZPA