Netball: Aussies get edge for world champs [+pictures]

New Zealand's Adine Harper looks to pass ahead of Australia's Natalie Von Bertouch last night. Picture / Simon Baker

Australia 46 New Zealand 40

Twelve months after suffering their heaviest defeat to the Silver Ferns, the Australians have sent an ominous warning ahead of next year's world championships.

With the three-test series tied 1-1, the Australians won the decider in Christchurch last night.

As has been the case in all three tests, little separated the sides. But it was the Australians who managed to hold their composure and net the goals when it counted.

The Silver Ferns and Australia have clashed 14 times since the world championship final in Jamaica in 2003. New Zealand have had the better of their rivals on nine of those occasions.

However, nine months out from the world championships in Fiji, Australia are gathering momentum and have won three of the last four matches. They are clearly a different side from the one thrashed by 25 goals by New Zealand 12 months ago.

Early on it was clear how desperate these two sides were to win, such was the intensity. Even Australian coach Norma Plummer stood for the entire game.

Hardly four minutes into the encounter New Zealand defender Vilimaina Davu was warned by South African umpire Maggie du Plessis after an incident with rival Sharelle McMahon.

However, it did little to perturb the one they call the smiling assassin, whose tight defence troubled the Australians.

Once again the Silver Ferns had trouble penetrating the Australian defence.

While the short sharp passes worked best for the New Zealand feeders around the circle edge, when it was on and delivered properly the long release into Irene van Dyk was breathtaking.

The New Zealand shooters landed all 12 of their attempts in the first quarter with van Dyk and Maria Tutaia netting six each.

The Australians coughed up some ball midway through the first quarter which allowed New Zealand to go into the first break ahead 12-10.

The start of the second quarter was marked by a run of turnovers by both sides.

The Australians tightened their defence which forced the Silver Ferns into a period of helter-skelter netball.

By the end of the quarter it was goal-for-goal and the sides went into halftime equal on 20 points.

A miss from van Dyk under the posts helped Australia edge ahead early in the third quarter.

New Zealand made the surprising decision to bring Tania Dalton in at goal attack after Tutaia appeared to suffer an upper thigh strain.

Dalton, who hasn't played international netball since 2003, sunk her first shot and within a few minutes the score was locked up at 27 all.

However, some sharp shooting from the Australians saw them surge ahead and lead 35-33 at three-quarter time.

The Silver Ferns fought back and with eight minutes to play the score was 37 all.

However, a couple of missed shots and inaccurate passes from the Kiwis proved costly as Australia streaked ahead.