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Australia will be celebrating as they bring the netball world crown back home today following last night’s thrilling 42-38 final victory over New Zealand.
Having lost the last world championship to New Zealand in 2003, Australia came out on top to win their ninth title since the tournament began in 1963, underlining their status as the most successful team in history.
With Australia determined to get the crown back, and New Zealand trying to claw back pride after a disastrous sporting year, the match was intense.
With just five minutes remaining there was just one goal separating the two teams, but Australia prevailed.
“It was just desperate,” captain Liz Ellis and a veteran of four world championships said.
“It was probably one of the most desperate matches and I’ve played in a few desperate matches. Everyone just went for the ball.”
Ellis, 34, was outstanding as she harried to disrupt supply to New Zealand’s great strike weapon, shooter Irene van Dyk.
“Old legs here she just kept pulling them in for us,” coach Norma Plummer said of Ellis.
In an intense start to the match, New Zealand led early, with the Silver Ferns attacking Australia’s fast-paced midcourt.
But it was Australia who led 27-20 at halftime.
The Kiwis fought back, and the Australians shot poorly but it mattered little in the end.
Over the whole match, Australia’s shooting accuracy was just 70 per cent compared to the Sliver Ferns’ 83 per cent.
Catherine Cox led Australia’s scoring, making 27 from 38 shots, and Sharelle McMahon made seven from 10.
New Zealand was disappointed but gracious.
“Australia did a really good job in affecting our flow into the circle,” coach Ruth Aitken said.
“For us, it was hard yakka – every phase of play on attack. In the end, we needed the ball into the shooters more often and it didn’t happen.
“It is very disappointing, but that’s sport. You have got to take the good with the bad.”
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