The Netball World Cup trophy is back in Australia’s possession after the Diamonds defeated England 61 to 45 to be world champions.
The Diamonds, who had current Swifts Paige Hadley and Sarah Klau in their ranks, had to overcome an in-form Jamaica to make it to netball’s big dance, where they faced-off with a Roses squad that had beaten them three days earlier.
Taking learnings from that encounter the Diamonds were determined not to let the Helen Housby-inspired Roses defeat them twice.
It was the perfect start for the Australians who forced England into an error off the opening centre pass and Cara Koenen was able to capitalise up the other end.
Koenen’s trademark baseline work was on full display early, and her partnership with Steph Wood on song.
As anticipated the Housby and Eleanor Cardwell combination was difficult to stop but the Diamond's hard work through the midcourt in defence ensured Housby had to do the bulk of the work outside circle edge.
Their ability to grind down the English attack pivotal.
Roses defender Fran Williams was injected into the game early at goal defence and had an immediate impact, picking up two gains. She was the match MVP when the Diamonds met the English team on Thursday and was a brick wall in defence.
Another error from the Diamonds and the game was back on.
A Jo Weston gain came at a vital time but another turnover from the Aussies and the scores were all tied up at the first break.
It’s hard to win ball off an England side that don’t miss, with Cardwell and Housby only missing two goals between them in a half of netball.
Every time the Diamonds looked like edging out the lead the Roses managed to get one back, keeping the margin at just one.
The England defenders starting to slow the movement into the shooting circle midway through the second.
Former Swifts champion Garbin entered the game to give Mentor something different to think about.
A Wood and Kiera Austin rotation was the next change on court. The defensive element of Austin’s game did not go unnoticed, nor did her accuracy in the goal circle (3/3).
Housby missed an attempt late in the second term which was picked up by the Diamonds and punished under our post to edge the lead out to four just before the main break in play.
Weston had a huge impact in the first half and was the stats leader for the Australians with three gains, including intercepts.
An Ash Brazill gain before a Klau tip in her first few seconds on court and the Diamonds sent the lead out to eight.
The English pegged one back but a held ball for the Roses and it was back out to the biggest lead of the game once again.
The Austin and Garbin combination was working. The England coaches made a number of changes in defence to try and curb the run of goals from the duo.
It slowed the Diamonds attack, but only momentarily in the third.
The Diamonds hit a game high lead of 10 in the depths of three quarter time.
A chance to blow the lead out to 14 at one stage the English upped their game. The Diamonds were unable to score off their gains.
Weston returned to the court after her impactful quarter.
The Roses made the Diamonds work for everything in the final term. But as the game was entering the final minutes it was Garbin who took a clutch intercept at the transverse line.
Kiera Austin was player of the match for her performance amassing fifteen goals with only two misses at 88 per cent during her time on court.
The momentous victory marks the first time the Diamonds have lifted the World Cup trophy in eight years and adds the final piece of silverware to their collection.
