Diamonds delighted with big win in Glasgow semi tune-up
Joanna Guelas |
The all-conquering Diamonds have seen and bulldozed everything en route to the Commonwealth Games netball semi-finals, with Northern Ireland the latest to fall victim.
Cara Koenen was the star in attack to help Australia soar to an 88-27 victory in Glasgow, outgunning the netball minnows to remain undefeated after five matches and finish at the top of pool A on Friday morning (AEST).
Northern Ireland finish the pool stage without registering a win, while Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich takes Australia to Saturday’s semi-finals and a likely date with world No.3 Jamaica.
Koenen described their eclectic pool matches – having also demolished Tonga, England, Malawi and South Africa – as the perfect preparation heading into the finals.
Their Northern Ireland victory was the second time Australia nabbed a 61-goal victory in Glasgow, having beaten Tonga by the same margin.
“We’ve seen a bit of everything, and I think that it’s so cool,” Koenen told AAP.
“We don’t usually face Malawi and Northern Ireland – they all bring so many different styles to the game that we couldn’t ask for any better preparation.”
An injury-hit Silver Ferns steamrolled a winless Trinidad and Tobago 83-23 earlier on day seven in Glasgow to lock in the top spot in pool B.
Gold Coast 2018 champions England will play South Africa later on Friday (AEST), the winner to nab the final semi-final spot against New Zealand.
Marinkovich opted for a new starting line-up against Northern Ireland, benching vice-captain Kate Moloney, Courtney Bruce, Jamie-Lee Price and star shooters Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin.
But even then, the world No.1 Diamonds were a class above and soared to a 27-6 lead at the first break.
Veteran goalshooter Koenen (57 goals/58 attempts) and goal attack Sophie Dwyer (11/11) rarely missed a beat in attack, before fellow shooter Garbin (15/15) joined the fray after halftime.
Marinkovich also brought in Moloney, Price and Bruce for the second half, while Austin enjoyed a well-deserved rest as midcourter Georgie Horjus was moved into goal attack for the final quarter (5/7).
Northern Ireland couldn’t match Australia’s blistering ball movement, committing 21 turnovers to the gold-medal favourites’ seven.
Lisa Bowman (15/18) was Northern Ireland’s leading attacker, as Diamonds goalkeeper Sarah Klau and goal defender Matilda Garrett proved nearly unbeatable.
“The final game going into a big weekend of medal matches, you really want to put out a good, consistent performance,” Koenen said.
“We rolled through a few different combinations, we had some awesome service down our goal circle end from our midcourt, and we won some really awesome ball in our defensive end as well.
“All good signs and really confident going into what will probably be Jamaica on Saturday.”
The finals-bound Diamonds have one eye on bitter rivals New Zealand, who will be at least one player down in their gold medal campaign.
Young defender Catherine Hall is suspected to have suffered a dreaded anterior cruciate ligament tear, requiring a wheelchair after hurting her left knee in the fourth quarter of the Silver Ferns’ 65-37 win over Wales.
Goal attack Georgia Heffernan also hurt her ankle against Wales, but New Zealand are confident she will be fit and ready to fire in their semi-final.
Teams at the Commonwealth Games are unable to call up injury replacements, meaning New Zealand – also undefeated in Glasgow so far – will contend for gold with 11 fit players.
AAP