Australia’s Diamonds renew their rivalry with England’s Roses in a three-Test series, beginning tonight in Adelaide.
It’s the first time these sides have met since the Diamonds smashed the Roses by 20 goals in the final of the Nations Cup in Leeds in January.
There were three possible Australian debutants named in the squad for the series – Rudi Ellis, Georgie Horjus and Ash Ervin.
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STARTING SEVEN:
Australia: GS Garbin, GA Austin, WA Watson, C Hadley, WD Price, GD Aryang, GK Klau
England: GS Cardwell, GA Housby, WA Joseph, C Allison, WD Cobden, GD Williams, GK Quashie
The first Test in the series gets underway at 7pm AEST at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Watch live on Fox Netball and Kayo Freebies.
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QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
Both teams opted to take a debutant into the opening Test with Rudi Ellis (Australia) and Lois Pearson (England) named in the 12-player squads.
Australian duo Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin showed the strength of their Vixens partnership as they regularly found each other under the post as “alarm bells” started to ring for England.
Sunday Aryang got the first tip of the match, but coughed up ball mid-court to keep the Roses in touch.
England’s Helen Housby was looking in ominous form as she found her radar from range.
The Roses defence squeezed up the Diamonds in attack and resulted in the turnover – after England’s star shooter El Cardwell found herself tiptoeing offside.
But just as England lifted, forced balls into Cardwell were picked off as Australia reeled off five straight goals.
“They are not being fed very well,” Fox Netball’s Stacey Francis-Bayman lamented of England’s shooters.
At quarter time, it was Australia leading 17-12.
England star Eleanor Cardwell was benched for the second term as rookie Lois Pearson was handed her Roses debut at goal attack, with Housby shifted back to shooter.
But again it was Australia’s defenders on top as the margin pushed out to 7.
Housby was forced to shake off an ankle roll after tangling with Sarah Klau.
But down the other end, it was “just too easy” according to commentator Catherine Cox as Austin and Garbin continued to find each other.
Australian Diamonds England series squad
Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)
Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales)
Sophie Dwyer (Giants Netball/New South Wales)
Rudi Ellis (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales)
Ash Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)
Sophie Garbin (Melbourne Vixens/Western Australia)
Matilda Garrett (Adelaide Thunderbirds/Victoria)
Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts/New South Wales)
Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia)
Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts/South Australia)
Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)
Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)
Amy Parmenter (Melbourne Mavericks/New South Wales)
Jamie-Lee Price (Giants Netball/New South Wales)
Liz Watson (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Victoria)
Source Agencies
