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Australia have brushed aside a near last-start loss to score a comfortable 43-33 win over England in the second netball Test.
Pushed all the way by the improved English in the first Test before going down 42-39, the Diamonds shone a little brighter tonight, holding the lead in the first quarter and never relinquishing it.
It was the tourists’ 37th consecutive loss to the Australians, having lost 48 of 49 clashes overall.
Susan Pratley led allcomers with 27 points for Australia while Louisa Brownfield bagged 19 for the visitors.
England had promised to cut down on errors and turnovers tonight but couldn’t do either as both sides struggled to get their scoring statistics above 80 per cent.
Australia held a five goal lead during the first quarter, the tourists failing to cut the deficit as inaccurate shooting began to mount.
The gap only widened as England made several changes to their line up.
England’s goal attack Tamsin Greenway came on in the second quarter, but failed to put a point on the board and was replaced by Joanne Harten at halftime.
Teammate Geva Mentor, who starred for Adelaide in the inaugural trans Tasman Championship, rivalled fellow Thunderbird and Australian goal attack Natalie Medhurst in the shooting circle and enabled the world No.3 team to benefit from a number of rebounds.
Australian coach Norma Plummer, who reached her 50th game as national coach tonight, said she was pleased with the way many of the new combinations performed despite training difficulties associated with interstate travel.
“We’re spreading wide and getting players from all states, so we’re seeing some interesting and new combinations,” she said.
“I was pleased with the way Pratley finished the game.
With the likes of veteran players such as Sharelle McMahon and Cath Cox forced to take time off due to injury, Plummer said the more experienced players needed to be cared for to ensure their availability next season.
“Or else some of these injuries could start finishing these older girls off,” she said.
With the Diamonds due to face New Zealand later this month, Plummer said she was hopeful her team would keep going from strength to strength.
“It’s tough when you’ve only got (the team) for four days beforehand,” Plummer said.
“And New Zealand is still a big threat … but we’ve really got to stand up and face it.”