Netball: Australia shock NZ with ten goal win

Experimentation and injury proved costly for the Silver Ferns when they lost the second netball test to Australia 48-38 in a major shock tonight.

The two-match series was drawn 1-1.

It was a huge form reversal after the Silver Ferns won by 12 goals in the first test in Brisbane on Saturday night.

The New Zealanders had won nine of their past 11 matches, including the last four in a row, against their biggest rivals.

It was the first loss for the world and Commonwealth Games champions since the Australians beat them 53-51 at Melbourne in November 2004 and only the fifth loss for coach Ruth Aitken in 51 matches at the helm.

It was also Australian coach Norma Plummer's first win over the New Zealanders since that 2004 match in Melbourne and came a day after she described the Silver Ferns as "the best I've ever seen".

- NZPA