Silver Ferns secure Constellation Cup after final quarter fightback over Australia

The Silver Ferns have won the Constellation Cup for just the fourth time after beating Australia 52-49 in Sydney, and are now just a win away from the number one world ranking.The Diamonds dominated the first three quarters, putting New Zealand under real pressure for the first time in the series, but the Silver Ferns pulled out a massive fourth quarter effort.The Silver Ferns entered the Australian leg of the Constellation Cup leading 2-0 after claiming the first test 56-50 in Auckland, and the second test 62-50 in Christchurch.Despite that, their recent record suggested it would not be easy beating the Diamonds in their own backyard, having only won two of the past 12 Constellation Cup matches on Australian soil, dating back to 2018.New Zealand started with the exact same seven that lined up in the gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which the Silver Ferns won.Despite an impressive game from Peta Toeava in test two, Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua left the specialist wing attack out of the Sydney clash, to bring Kimiora Poi back in, who was just as effective in the opening test.Within the first minute Kate Moloney had to leave the court with a finger issue, which meant Australian captain Liz Watson had to step into centre again, and Sophie Dwyer came on at goal attack.The Diamonds came out of the blocks strong to win the first quarter 15-11, for the first time in the series.Grace Nweke of the Silver Ferns and Courtney Bruce tussle for the ball.John Davidson / www.photosport.nzThe Diamonds upped their defensive efforts and rare misses came early from Georgia Heffernan and Grace Nweke, and the Silver Ferns trailed by as many as six.Te Paea Selby-Rickit replaced Heffernan near the end of the first quarter and the Silver Ferns inched their way back in the second quarter.The quick movement between the Australian shooting pairing of Sophie Garbin and Sophie Dwyer, caught the Silver Ferns defenders off guard at times.Selby-Rickit nailed a long-range shot on the half-time whistle to level it 26-all.Poi came on at wing attack at half-time, which pushed Maddy Gordon, back to centre. Kate Heffernan went into wing defence halfway through the third spell, after starting at centre.Australia started reasserting themselves again in the third quarter and rookie goalkeeper Jessie Grenvold continued to make life difficult for Nweke, who had been almost untouchable in the first two tests.But the Silver Ferns reined them in to trail by just two heading into the final quarter.The in-circle defensive pairing of Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger didn't get the amount ball they did in the first two tests but starting having more impact as the game wore on.Incredibly it took the Australian Diamonds six minutes to score in the final quarter but when they did, they started building momentum and took a two-goal lead with six minutes left.Kelly Jackson (middle) fights for the ball.Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nzGordon, who brought up her 50th test cap, had to go to the bench not long after a heavy fall, which led to another New Zealand midcourt shuffle.Nweke finished the game with 41 goals, and Garbin with 37.The Diamonds, who barely won any ball on defence in the first two tests, finished with 10 gains, the same number as New Zealand.After a whopping 85 penalties committed by Australia in the second test, the Diamonds finished with a more respectable 54 to the Silver Ferns 45.The Silver Ferns can clean-sweep the series for the first time ever if they win in Melbourne on Wednesday.They are also expected to dethrone Australia from their number one world ranking for the first time since 2013, with a win.The fourth test is in Melbourne on Wednesday at 9.30pm NZT.