Silver Ferns fall short of 4-0 clean sweep

The Silver Ferns missed out on a Constellation Cup clean sweep after Australia stormed back to secure a high-scoring 68-58 win in the final match of the series in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Having already wrapped up an assailable 3-0 lead in the series, Melbourne, once again, proved an unhappy hunting ground for the Silver Ferns against a Diamonds team with their backs to the wall and desperate not to experience a first-ever 4-0 Constellation Cup demise.

The Silver Ferns were unable to reproduce their earlier form of the series, lacking the same punch against an increasingly-improved Australia, who put their foot down in a dominant second half. With the Silver Ferns up by one at halftime, Australia took control, enjoying a greater share of possession while turning the screws at both ends of the court.

In a special moment for the team, Māori Queen of New Zealand, Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō was in the house for the game and to witness the Silver Ferns being presented with the Constellation Cup.

To put their stamp on winning the series, outstanding Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke, the most prolific scorer throughout the series, had the distinction of becoming the inaugural winner of the Plummer-Aitken Medal introduced for this year’s Constellation Cup series.

Honouring the legacy of two legends of the sport in Australia’s Norma Plummer and New Zealand’s Dame Ruth Aitken, a 3-2-1 voting system was employed for each of the four Constellation Cup games by match commentators, with Nweke producing a defining series to clinch the most valuable player accolade and with it, the distinction of becoming the first winner of the Plummer-Aitken Medal. 

The Silver Ferns reverted to their match-day 12 of the second test, with midcourter Peta Toeava replacing Kimiora Poi and getting the start at wing attack, coinciding with the first start of the series for goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit.

With Jamie-Lee Price (calf) and Matilda Garrett (concussion) ruled out for the Australian leg of the series, the Diamonds’ options were, once again, limited. After a challenging series with finger issues, midcourter Kate Moloney, who was ruled out of the games in New Zealand after needing multiple stitches in one finger, dislocated another at the start of the third test, but bounced back strongly to grab a starting spot in the fourth.

It was a measured start with the teams going goal-for-goal in the early stages before the Diamonds got the first mini jump to take a short-lived three-goal lead. That was quickly reeled in by good defensive pick-ups from centre Maddy Gordon and the combined efforts of in-circle defenders Karin Burger and Kelly Jackson enabling the Silver Ferns to take a tenuous 15-14 lead at the first break.

The Diamonds were effective at disrupting the Silver Ferns second phase play on the resumption while experienced midcourters in captain Liz Watson and Moloney impressed with their speed and variety at their attacking end. They were well-supported by the impressive play and shooting of Sophie Garbin and Georgie Horjus.

The Silver Ferns were quick to make a change with Parris Mason coming on at goal defence for captain Burger, for her first minutes of the series, the game reverting to type with the tightest of contests playing out. With neither team able to pull away, the Silver Ferns produced a late push to keep the slimmest of advantages when leading 32-31 at the main break after a drawn second quarter.

Managing workloads while giving others opportunities, the Silver Ferns made multiple changes during the third stanza, including the introduction of Georgia Heffernan, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Amelia Walmsley at various stages, as the on-court nip and tuck continued.

Retaining their starting seven, it was the Diamonds who made a decisive move during a dominant third quarter. Continuing to impress with the speed of ball and movement on attack, combined with the slight figure of Horjus making a strong impression from goal attack, the Diamonds moved into a position of control when leading 51-45 at the last turn and maintained the same intensity during the final 15 minutes.

The Sliver Ferns wind up a busy 2026 schedule with three matches against the Net Blacks NZ Men’s team in Hamilton on November 17, 19 and 21.