The Samsung Australian Diamonds have started their Northern Quad Series campaign with a 62 to 45 goal victory against South Africa in Liverpool this morning.
With captain Caitlin Bassett out with a fractured arm and the Netball World Cup just months away, Head Coach Lisa Alexander mixed things up throughout the game in search for that perfect starting seven.
“We really needed to mix things up and try some different combinations,” Alexander said after the game. “Caitlin Thwaites gives us a big target to work with at goal shooter whereas Steph (Wood) is more mobile. Kelsey (Browne), Kate (Moloney) and Jamie-Lee (Price) give us a lot of speed through the wings and Gabi (Simpson) and Lizzy (Watson) have that hard-edge to their play.”
The Diamonds looked rattled at times during the first quarter, as the rugged defence and sharp passing of the South African’s bogged down the normally razor-sharp Australian attack.
Led by goal shooter Lenize Potgieter, the SPAR Proteas burst out of the gates, shooting a perfect 100% in the first quarter and stunning the world number one Diamonds who trailed by five at the first break.
But, thanks to some clutch shooting from Thwaites and some dynamic play through the middle, the Diamonds settled in to that familiar groove in the second quarter, storming back from five goals down to take a two-goal lead into the half-time break.
Coach Alexander made three big changes to start the second half, moving Liz Watson from wing attack to centre, bringing the speedy Browne on at wing attack and swapping the size and strength of Thwaites for the speed of Wood.
With Jo Weston at goal defence, Courtney Bruce at goal keeper and young gun Price at wing defence, this defensive combination took a stranglehold on the game. The Diamonds scored 16 goals during the third quarter and stretched their lead to five at the final break.
The class and skill of the Diamonds shone through in the final quarter, scoring 19 goals to 7 on the way to securing the 17-goal win.
“We certainly got off to a really poor start. We took ages to adjust to the umpiring and I thought our energy was a little lack lustre,” Alexander admitted. “We’re going to have to really work on that. We can’t afford to have a start like that against the Kiwis or Roses.”
The Diamonds will now have a week to prepare for back-to-back games against New Zealand and England next Saturday and Sunday in London.
Match report with thanks to Samsung Diamonds.
