Netball: Former Kiwi fires Aussies to netball win

9.20pm

Australia showed a massive improvement on their early season form to beat the Silver Ferns 54-49 in a rugged first netball test at the Sydney Superdome tonight.

The New Zealanders went into this three-match series as favourites after their 3-0 whitewash of the Australians in New Zealand earlier this year. But they failed to ram home the advantage they might have had with a nervous start tonight, taking an age to find the timing of their new combinations in the absence of veterans Belinda Colling and Anna Rowberry.

It was their first loss in two years and 20 matches. The revamped Australian team fired out of the blocks to end a four-test losing streak against New Zealand and their win was set up by a brilliant performance by a Kiwi who got away.

Whangarei-born Catherine Cox missed the three-test series in New Zealand earlier this year with an ankle injury, but her return to the green and gold kit was a victorious one.

Cox was unflappable in the face of some rugged defence from Silver Ferns' goalkeep Vilimaina Davu, who became a villain for the world record crowd of 14,339.

She flattened the Australian shooter often with her blocking techniques, but Cox rose valiantly from the canvas each time.

She slotted 12 goals from 12 attempts in the first quarter and missed only one in the next.

The Australians edged ahead by three midway through the first quarter, with centre Jessica Shynn's bullet passes giving Cox and Australian goal attack Megan Anderson precious time to find their range.

By the quarter's end, it was 15-9 to Australia, with Cox leading the way.

The Australians clearly had the better of the second quarter, holding a 12-goal advantage at one stage.

Angela Mitchell, who after a nervous start, settled down to score some goals late in the second quarter but was replaced at halftime by Jodi Te Huna. Australia led 31-22 at halftime.

The Ferns got it back to 42-36 by the end of the third quarter with an improved showing and the margin was reduced to four early in the final quarter, but the Australians held their nerve and led by nine with five minutes remaining and were not in serious danger after that.

The Australians lost their captain Liz Ellis with an ankle injury early in the third quarter, while New Zealand skipper Lesley Nicol sat out the final quarter, replaced by Victoria Edward.

Captain Lesley Nicol said the team were "a bit flat" on the court.

"We lacked intensity. We haven't felt that losing feeling for a long time and we know we do not like it. We want that winning feeling back," she said.

The Ferns pulled back in the third and fourth quarters but just didn't achieve the edge needed to give themselves a winning chance.

"We got turnovers but didn't end up converting them and that tends to take its toll. At times I felt we were almost too nice out there. We need a bit more mongrel and a bit more guts."

Nicol's right thigh was heavily strapped immediately after the match, but she said it was fine.

Aitken downplayed the replacement, saying it was always her intention to give Edward playing time.

- NZPA