New Zealand vs Australia Constellation Cup netball live updates — blog and scores from Wellington

Sophie Dwyer is called for breaking and Paige Hadley looks frustrated! She’s not long crept back on the court to return to her starting centre position. It’s not what the Diamonds are after entering the final seven minutes of this game.

Brilliant intercept from Kate Heffernan, she pinched it right from underneath Kate Moloney’s nose. Huge moment off the Australian centre pass.

Bruce and Nweke both leaped into the air to try and catch a high feed, but their arms got tangled. As Nweke got more hang time and took hold of the ball, she brought her arms down and connected with Bruce. But there was no malice. Bruce clutched at her forehead and the umpire called an offensive contact, gifting the Aussie goal keeper possession. But the replay looks as if Nweke didn’t connect with hard force or anywhere near the spot Bruce was clutching. Probably the wrong call.

No changes for either team heading into this fourth quarter. The Diamonds have done a good job at slowing down the Silver Ferns first centre pass. It took them almost a full minute to score.

Meanwhile, Maddy Gordon is clutching at her chin after Kate Moloney accidentally clipped her on the face as she contested the ball on the edge of the circle.

SCORE: 48-40 New Zealand’s way

The Silver Ferns have led at every break of this game and take a seven-goal lead into three-quarter time. Every New Zealand player has been immense, while it feels like the Diamonds are a bit shook. They just can’t get their line-up right. The Australians won that quarter, 15-13 but they’re going to need a bigger fight in these last 15 minutes.

Sarah Klau is injected with two and a half minutes left in this third quarter. Is it too late though? The Diamonds were up by three for the quarter before New Zealand fought back to level it and take us back to the nine-goal margin we saw at half-time.

Klau is also donning the GD bib, when her impact could really be felt at goal keeper. There must be a reason Marinkovich is persisting with Bruce. Perhaps fast tracking her return to fitness and testing her ability to work herself into the game.

Dwyer was happy to send the ball in from long range, but the shot was a little offline and came off the rim. Koenen had to get up nice and high and over the top of the New Zealand defenders in order to pluck that ball out of the air. She finishes the job with another goal.

SCORE 43-37 New Zealand’s way

Nweke popped out of the circle and as she tried to get back near the post, she knocked Weston over. The umpire spotted it straight away and Australia were quick to capitalise on the opportunity. Dwyer converts their next centre pass to make it two in a row.

SCORE: 42-36 New Zealand’s way

Australia edge one back through Dwyer as Ekenasio is called for breaking on a Silver Ferns centre pass. Now the Diamonds are leading this quarter by one goal.

SCORE: 41-32 New Zealand’s way

Maddy Gordon is doing a great job at centre for the Silver Ferns. Her feeds into Nweke have been excellent. It’s nice to see Noeline Taurua give her the change to run out this game. In the matches against England, it felt like she would be substituted at odd times for no reason, with detriment to the midcourt. Now she’s being allowed the game-time to continue and build her form.

As expected, Sophie Dwyer has taken hold of the goal attack bib. She converts the first goal of this third quarter, which is a good sign as she only had six minutes of court time against England. Good to get on court and shake those nerves out with an early goal. Austin takes a rest. There’s also been a change in the midcourt, as Price shifts into centre and Kate Moloney gets her first minutes of the game in wing defence. This is likely to have been made for more of a defensive presence in the middle.

No changes yet for the Silver Ferns.

SCORE: 34-26 New Zealand’s way

Australia have been cleaner in defence, but they’ve been nowhere near as menacing. Perhaps it’s time for Sarah Klau to enter the game? She’s only a little bit taller than Bruce at 1.9m but she’s rangier. With longer limbs to contest the high feeds.

Not a lot to take from the scoring, other than the Silver Ferns dominance heading into the break. They are well and truly on a roll. Meanwhile, not pictured here are Kiera Austin’s shooting stats. She’s dropped to 65 per cent! Nowhere near the standard needed at Australian level. Sometimes Austin can be guilty of trying to do it all, she’s trying her butt off! But she needs a goal shooter on court with her that can get free and help with the shooting load so she doesn’t run herself into the ground.

It’s a great question and one the Diamonds are pondering right now, E! Having seen Fran Williams get the better of her in the Taini Jamison series, body positioning seems to be everything! If Bruce can get her feet moving and start to dictate space in the circle then that should go a long way. Nweke is getting the ball right where she wants it. Bruce is going to have to be more proactive before that feed is sent in. A tough ask coming back from injury. Her fitness looks as if it’s taken a bit of a hit.

Wow, the Silver Ferns are up for the challenge. We doubted how competitive they’d be in this series but yet here they are, once again battling it out with Australia for bragging rights across the Tasman. The Diamonds need a big reset at this half-time break.

In saying that, a goal was awarded to Ekenasio right on the whistle that probably should have been a held ball call. Nonetheless, they’ve been the more dominant side and should be pretty happy in the changerooms right now.

Australia only scored nine goals in that quarter!

Kiera Austin has been our shining light in 2024, she’s had a stellar year, but right now she’s not able to bring that class to the court. As New Zealand captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio coughs up the ball – a key opporuntiy to grab loose ball – the Diamonds aren’t able to jump on it as Austin is called for contact. Might it be time to bring on a different GA?

The Aussies are falling apart in attack. The clinical start they had up front is now a distant memory as the new shooting combination of Koenen and Austin fails to connect. The Silver Ferns are up by seven goals with three minutes to half-time.

SCORE: 30-23 New Zealand’s way

Instead, Marinkovich decides to give Bruce more support out front. Bringing Jo Weston on into goal defence to replace Sunday Aryang. Weston is also returning from injury.

Grace Nweke is killing it in this game! Bruce is coming back from injury and it’s clear that right now, she’s not at her usual best. Could it be worth making a change in goal keeper? Sarah Klau did well against England but is currently on the bench.

Cara Koenen rolls onto court for the Diamonds, replacing Garbin at goal shooter. Koenen was previously the Aussies favoured starting shooter but hasn’t been as strong of late. With Garbin unable to get free, Stacey Marinkovich has been forced to make the change. And it doesn’t get off to a great start, as Austin misses another attempt and Koenen is called for an offensive contact while contesting the rebound. The Silver Ferns use the opportunity to add another goal to their tally.

SCORE: 26-20 New Zealand lead

Momentum swing! Of the last 10 goals, seven of them have been from the Silver Ferns’ camp. With nine minutes left till half-time.

SCORE: 23-19 New Zealand lead