That tournament had an unhappy end for the Silver Ferns who could not catch the Australian Diamonds after conceding a huge first-quarter lead in the title match. My fortune was to attend the earlier pool match between the two.
It was with some trepidation though. The night before, I headed out to the same sporting precinct hoping the All Blacks would peel away the uncertainty which had shackled them through their early tests. Instead they were outplayed 27-19 by the Wallabies.
The highlight was the ride back into the city in a Maserati. Driver Luigi, complete with accent, buckled raincoat and shades, loved the sound of his own engine so we zipped throatily back to the city centre.
Our transport the next day was more sedate although we feared a similar result was coming for the netball side as 16,000 of us crammed into the state-of-the-art arena.
As the match of the day loomed, a squadron of former Aussie stars, including Sharelle McMahon and Catherine Cox ramped up the patriotic intensity while Temepara Bailey did her best to counter for the Kiwis.
When Maria Tutaia missed her opening two shots, a row of Kiwi netball diehards, complete with silver wigs, black garb and their knitting patterns, gritted their teeth. An hour later they were toasting the Ferns 52-47 triumph.
It ended a weekend of transtasman competition where once again sport showed its ability to surprise and unite.
CHECKLIST
Getting there: Qantas flies daily from Auckland to Sydney.
The writer travelled courtesy of Destination NSW.
