Storming home in the final quarter, the Silver Ferns set the Constellation Cup alight after stunning Australia 64-50 in the four-test series opener in Wellington on Sunday.
With history favouring the home team in recent Constellation Cup series, this year’s opening match followed a similar trend but the Silver Ferns were particularly impressive in rebounding strongly from last month’s disappointing Taini Jamison Trophy loss to England.
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The Silver Ferns delivered their biggest win over the Diamonds since 2010 while recording their highest score against their trans-Tasman rivals in a non-extra-time match.
In searching for answers against the Silver Ferns, Australia used all 12 of their playing squad while the Silver Ferns stuck with their starting seven apart from the final few minutes when midcourter Claire O’Brien was injected.
Strong and clinical across most facets of play, the Silver Ferns had plenty of ball, nailing 64 goals from their 68 attempts while also enjoying 11 gains to Australia’s five.
"It was hard work and I’m just real proud of the group,’’ Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio said.
"We’ve had a tough couple of weeks and how we played tonight is what we’ve been putting out in training, so I’m just stoked that it’s come into the game. That’s what we’ve been working on so hard, and I’m so happy.’’
With Kimiora Poi getting the nod at wing attack, Maddy Gordon, at centre, and Kate Heffernan, wing defence, the Silver Ferns presented with a pacey and strong defensive unit in the midcourt.
Missing through injury for their recent series against England, the Diamonds welcomed top-quality goalkeeper Courtney Bruce back to the international arena and with it, the task of marking key Silver Ferns shooting target Grace Nweke.
International netball’s most long-standing and celebrated rivalry was on show from the first whistle, the match providing an action-packed and high-scoring opening stanza.
A goal-for-goal stand-off combined with the intense nature of the contest provided the cleanest of starts where turnovers were low both ways with few crumbs on offer for the defenders, leaving the attacking lines to stamp their mark.
With Gordon and Poi delivering quick-release ball into Nweke’s hands, the Silver Ferns matched the Diamonds all the way. Through the first quarter, the home side had to work harder in their second phase play but retaining possession and patience were key assets.
Diamonds pair Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin showed great shooter-to-shooter connection under the hoop, a late Heffernan pick-up giving the Silver Ferns the impetus to squeeze a narrow 17-16 lead at the first break.
The Silver Ferns moved up a gear on the resumption with the in-circle defensive pairing of Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger turning up the heat in the Diamonds circle resulting in hesitancy and tentativeness from the visiting shooters.
With Ekenasio getting through a big workload on attack and Gordon and Heffernan providing the smother in front of the Australian attackers the Silver Ferns dominated the second stanza.
With Australian goal shoot Garbin replaced by Cara Koenen and goal defence Sunday Aryang by Jo Weston, the Diamonds were firmly on the back foot when trailing 34-25 at the main break.
There were more changes from the Diamonds as the Silver Ferns braced for the inevitable push-back from the world champions.
Showing great ball speed through court with captain Liz Watson orchestrating the visitor’s attacking moves, the elusive Koenen and Sophie Dwyer delivered some slick momentum in the shooting circle as Australia battled to change the momentum.
However, despite a couple of hiccups, the Silver Ferns remained staunch with Nweke at the shooting end delivering a masterclass while the long-limbed Jackson and movement of Burger ensured the Australian shooters were never comfortable.
Weathering the storm, the Silver Ferns held on to a 47-40 lead at three-quarter time.
The danger was far from over with the Diamonds closing the gap to five during the opening stages of the final stanza, the Silver Ferns galvanised by two telling interceptions, firstly by Gordon, then another by Heffernan while being roared on by a buoyant home crowd to ensure there was a timely resurgence to seal an impressive first-up win.