THE Diamonds flipped the script in Game 2 of the Constellation Cup comfortably downing New Zealand by nine goals (45-36). The Ferns are yet to win two consecutive games on home soil in a Constellation Cup series a feat the Diamonds will once again be glad they stopped. With a new look shooting line-up and versatility across the court Australia seemed to have all the answers while the Ferns struggled without captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio who was sidelined with a calf complaint. Her absence was sorely missed not only in the attacking third but so too through the midcourt with the home side failing to register much movement and penetration through the Diamonds defence.

Getting the nod in the starting goal shooter position, second gamer, Cara Koenen wasted no time proving that she is arguably the future of the Diamonds attack end. Up against New Zealand co-captain Jane Watson, the 23-year-old had her work cut out for her but used her clever footwork and baseline drives to play to her advantage and keep Watson guessing. Koenen’s partnership with Kiera Austin steadily grew throughout the opening term with the duo syncing up with one another to read the space and rotate through the circle to keep the scoreboard well and truly ticking over and worry the Ferns defence. The moving circle seemed to pay wonders as Watson and Karin Burger had to work in overdrive to mark their player and shut down their movement despite Koenen being the main scoring option under the post with 12 goals for the term.

Down in defence the Diamonds were having a field day as the long arms of Jo Weston wreaked havoc. Playing out in wing defence, Weston was a real menace with her three-foot marking and dogged style of defence to throw Gina Crampton off, especially around circle edge given her extra centimetres. The missing piece in Ekenasio was felt across the court and especially in the first quarter as the Ferns were unable to locate Maia Wilson with any ease and Monica Falkner struggled with not only accuracy but volume too as Courtney Bruce accounted for her.

After keeping the Ferns to a mere six goals in the first term of play, the Ferns rung in the changes to try and shake things up and work their way back into what had been a one-sided affair. Bailey Mes made her long-awaited return from injury, but much like Falkner could not withstand the physicality and pressure hailing from Bruce, while through the midcourt Shannon Saunders and Whitney Souness pulled on the centre and wing attack bib respectively. The ball movement looked more fluid in attack with Saunders and Crampton taking advantage of their established connection to swing the ball around the court and create more opportunities for Wilson under the post.

The changes also came in the defensive end with youngster Maddy Gordon making her Silver Ferns debut pulling on the wing defence bib albeit short lived, while Sulu Fitzpatrick was handed the goal keeper bib in hope to nullify Koenen under the post. But the Diamonds kept on rolling going on a mini goal scoring spree to nail four consecutive goals midway through the second term and push the buffer out to 12 goals. Liz Watson seemed to have the ball on a string in attack for Australia weaving her magic down the court and hitting circle edge with nothing but precision and pace, acting as a real playmaker and steady head for the young and inexperienced frontline.

Down by 14 goals at half time the Ferns came out with a point to prove nailing six goals in a row to eat into the deficit with Wilson putting in the hard yards against Sarah Klau who had been wearing the goaler like a glove in the opening term. Utilising her height and body work, Wilson managed to steer the ship for New Zealand and place some pressure back on the Diamonds side – who up until then had been sitting pretty. The Ferns dominance was felt down in defence as the home nation put up a brick wall down back not allowing the Diamonds their first goal of the second half until five minutes into the term. Continuing the theme of debutants, Sophie Garbin also earned her maiden performance replacing Austin out in goal attack. The change played somewhat into the Ferns hands as Watson and Fitzpatrick combined to stifle the shooting duos movement and clog them together.

Although Mes did not find the post as often as she would have liked her experience and added movement gifted the Silver Ferns a chance to take the heat off Wilson, while Claire Kersten’s injection back into the game paid dividends. New Zealand won the third quarter, keeping Australia to a lowly eight goals while they piled on 12 reducing the deficit to 10 goals.

With a victory on the line both sides tightened up. Kate Moloney was a real general through the centre for the Diamonds credit to her high level of endurance and strong connection with both Watson and Weston. With the midcourt motoring the Ferns once again tinkered with Sam Winders pushed to the bench and Gordon re-entering the game as was a similar case with Saunders and Kersten. In the end it was the Diamonds that got the final say as their consistency and ball movement shone through in what was a low scoring affair for both sides.

Koenen was named player of the match for her impressive performance under the post nailing 29 goals from 34 attempts at 85 per cent while also reeling in four rebounds. Liz Watson starred through the midcourt amassing 21 goal assists and one intercept as her first outing as captain while down back the pairing of Klau and Bruce recorded six gains, 13 deflections and three rebounds. In her 50th match Jane Watson impressed collecting seven gains and six deflections as Wilson impressed up the other end with 32 goals at 84 per cent.