Ameliaranne Ekenasio of New Zealand is challenged by Courtney Bruce of Australia. Photo / Getty
Ameliaranne Ekenasio of New Zealand is challenged by Courtney Bruce of Australia. Photo / Getty
The Silver Ferns are one step closer to gracing their trophy cabinet with the Constellation Cup.
Following a disappointing loss in Auckland earlier this week, the Silver Ferns hit back with a 54-53 win over the Australian Diamonds in Sydney to lead the series 2-1.
Should they carry their winningways into the final test next weekend, the Silver Ferns will lift the Constellation Cup for the first time in seven years.
It initially looked like it was going to be the same story of a dominant Diamonds win on Australian soil, especially when they shot out to an early six-goal lead, which they held for most of the first half.
However, the Silver Ferns tore up the script, storming back in the third quarter, unwilling to go down without a fight - a response head coach Noeline Taurua was pleased to see.
"[Australia] started really well and we were on the back foot, even in that first quarter it felt like we were hanging on for dear life," Taurua said after the match. "But that last two minutes was just sheer determination and grit.
"When things needed to happen, we were able to do it ... there's not much between one point but I'm really glad we're on the right side of the ledger."
The Silver Ferns celebrate after beating the Australian Diamonds. Photo / Photosport
The Diamonds had taken control of the match for the first and second quarters to lead at halftime by four goals. Australia's staunch defence shut down ball into the Ferns' circle, while captain Caitlin Bassett and Gretel Tippett led a relentless attacking unit.
Clearly unhappy with their performance in the first half, Taurua's world champions hit back after the break with a stellar six-goal run to take the lead for the first time in the game.
Folau and Ameliaranne Ekenasio were forced to put their long-range shooting skills on display as the Diamonds defence continued to prove too niggly for the duo to create space under the post. But no strangers to the outer edge of the circle, the experienced duo confidently shot at a combined rate of 90 per cent.
Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman led her side from the front during a high-pressure final 10 minutes which saw the Diamonds hot on their heels.
Both sides looked momentarily unsettled as an array of missed passes and penalties saw possession thrown back and forth. However, it was the Ferns, again, who proved too strong in the do-or-die moments as Ekenasio slotted the crucial goal to give the Ferns the lead, and a Langman intercept sealed the win.
"We did really look long and hard at ourselves after test two, it was pretty hard watching and it was really heartening to see the effort that was going in, in terms of what we had talked about," Langman said.
"I enjoyed the mini conversations we were able to have in real-time and it's those small things that actually matter when it gets tight."
The teams have a week to prepare for the final game of the Constellation Cup, set to be hosted in Perth next Sunday.
