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Sport

Silver Ferns seal Constellation Cup with 52-49 comeback win over Australia in Sydney

New Zealand's Silver Ferns have clinched the Constellation Cup for the fourth time, storming home 52-49 against Australia in the third test at Sydney's Afterpay Arena after trailing for most of the match.

By James Calloway · · 2 min read

New Zealand’s Silver Ferns have clinched the Constellation Cup, storming home to beat Australia 52-49 in the third test at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena on Sunday.

The Ferns trailed for most of the contest before winning the final quarter 13-8 to silence the sold-out Sydney crowd. Australia led 15-11 after the first quarter, the sides were level 26-26 at half-time, and the Diamonds took a 41-39 lead into the final term.

Goal shoot Grace Nweke led the comeback with 41 goals from 45 attempts, supported by Georgia Heffernan with six from seven and Te Paea Selby-Rickit with five from eight. For Australia, Sophie Garbin shot 37 from 43, Sophie Dwyer nine from 11 and Kiera Austin three from three.

The win gives New Zealand an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-test series and the Cup for only the fourth time. The Ferns head to Melbourne for Wednesday’s final test with the chance to sweep Australia for the first time.

A stunning 7-0 start to the final quarter put the Ferns in front, and Nweke scored with 30 seconds left to restore a three-goal lead after Australia had fought back with five straight goals.

“Our girls have been working so hard and you can see it out there. The hunger was really there,” Silver Ferns captain Karin Burger told Sky Sport. “We’re just so happy that we got there, but we’ve got one more game to go.”

Maddy Gordon marked her 50th test by soldiering on after a nasty tumble in the final quarter. Australia suffered an early blow when vice-captain Kate Moloney left the court after 30 seconds, reopening the hand wound that had kept her out of the first test.

The match was played at the venue for next year’s Netball World Cup final.

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