Netball: Silver Ferns clinch Constellation Cup with thrilling comeback win over Australia
7 Mar, 2021 04:00 AM
4 minutes to read
Silver Ferns 45
Australia 43
It wasn t pretty and it wasn t easy, but the Silver Ferns have finally reclaimed the Constellation Cup.
In another classic come-from-behind win over Australia in Christchurch, the Ferns claimed the four-match series 3-1, lifting the Cup for the first time in nine years and just the second time since the Cup s inception.
An ecstatic Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio acknowledged the long wait.
Advertisement I ve actually never touched the Constellation Cup - I m so excited. It has been a while, not only for this group here, but everyone before us as well. We carry so much pride with us and so much goes on behind the scenes. It takes so much more than what you see here.
Silver Ferns seal series win over Diamonds
Jamie-Lee Price of Australia is challenged by Shannon Saunders of New Zealand.
Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
Stacey Marinkovich s reign as Australia s national team coach has begun with disappointment after the Diamonds let slip the Constellation Cup for the first time in eight years with a 45-43 loss to New Zealand.
The world champion Silver Ferns are now again the dominant southern hemisphere presence after their gutsy triumph in Christchurch sealed the four-match series 3-1.
The Diamonds needed to win by at least three goals to extend their Constellation Cup dominance to an eighth campaign.
Australia coach Stacey Marinkovich insists the Diamonds are heading in the right direction despite losing netball’s Constellation Cup to New Zealand for the first time in eight years
Sunday, 7 March 2021, 5:34 pm
Photo
courtesy Michael Bradley
Photography
Showing their growing
ability to close out games, the Silver Ferns produced
another gripping come-from-behind win to pip Australia 45-43
and clinch the Constellation Cup series 3-1 in Christchurch
on Sunday.
In the process, the Silver Ferns broke a
long drought in getting their hands on the Constellation Cup
for the first time since 2012.
In a recurring theme,
the Silver Ferns, after being down by five at halftime,
delivered a blockbuster second half. In a fourth-quarter
arm-wrestle, the Silver Ferns held their composure in a toe-
to-toe stand-off with their great rivals.