Aussie Diamonds win Netball World Cup after England sledge backfires brutally

Australia are the queens of the netball world once again after exacting sweet revenge on England to win the World Cup for a record-extending 12th time on Sunday night. The Diamonds put on a clinical and classy display to beat the Roses 61-45 in Cape Town, bouncing back from their shock loss to England in the final game of the group stage.

The Aussies were far more ruthless and precise this time around after a one-goal loss on Thursday. Sunday's final was effectively over at three-quarter time once Australia had surged to a 10-goal lead.

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The Diamonds revealed afterwards how they'd used some pointed comments from England shooter Helen Housby as motivation. Speaking after England's win on Thursday, Housby said: “In the last quarter we wanted it more. We looked like the stronger side, we looked fitter and we wanted the ball in our hands."

On Sunday night, retiring star Ash Brazill said the Diamonds took those comments personally. "For the last 10 minutes, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face," Brazill said.

"England beat us in the rounds and everyone loved targeting us. Helen said they were fitter and more energetic than us and that just got everyone fighting.

"We really wanted to beat Jamaica (in the semi-final) so we could play against these guys again, and we've done it the way we wanted to. The last two games were some of the best netball we've played in a long time.

"I'm so proud of these girls. The fact we're standing here as world champions, I just couldn't wish for a better ending. I'll never play netball again - how can I top this?"

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich named the same starting seven for the third-straight game, but replaced both shooters in the second quarter to brilliant effect. Sophie Garbin (27 goals from 32 attempts) and player of the match Kiera Austin (15 from 17) came on for starters Cara Koenen (10 from 10) and Steph Wood (9 from 10). "That's the class of this group that I can turn to anybody and they will come out and play their role and they've done it all across the tournament," Marinkovich said.

The score was tied at 13-13 at quarter-time, but Australia pulled away either side of half-time. They outscored England 14-10 In the second and 19-13 in the third. The Diamonds maintained their intensity to the very end, winning the final quarter 15-9.

"It's unbelievable just to come back the way we did (after losing to England)," Diamonds captain and wing attack Liz Watson said. "This group, I'm so proud to lead them, they are an amazing group of athletes."

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Circle defenders Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston were particularly outstanding, forcing turnovers with Australia then scoring four unanswered goals to set up a 27-23 half-time lead. Goal attack Austin said: "We promised to write our own script and we did."

Bruce was named defender of the tournament, while New Zealand's Kate Heffernan was named best mid-courter and Housby awarded both the player and shooter of the competition. "I'm just so proud of the girls they all came out, that was like a collective effort," Marinkovich said. "England were classy they were hard, we had to be at our best."

In the bronze medal match earlier on Sunday night, Jamaica stunned New Zealand again to send the Kiwis to their worst World Cup result ever. In a repeat of their final pool game, the Sunshine Girls beat the 2019 champions 52-45 to earn their fourth World Cup bronze medal.

Jhaniele Fowler made 43 goals from 44 attempts in another dominant display for Jamaica, while New Zealand missed out on a medal for the first time in World Cup history.

with AAP

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