England 44 Australia 55
LONDON - Australia have beaten England 55-44 in a one-off netball test.
Diamonds captain Sharelle McMahon was named player of the match after shooting 29 goals from 35 attempts in Bath, England, today while Susan Pratley contributed 26 from 32.
Returning to the longer form of the game after the weekend's Netball World Series, the visitors, ranked No 1 in the world, fought back from a three-goal deficit at the end of the first quarter to go two goals up at halftime.
"England got a bit of a jump on us in that first quarter, which we obviously want to rectify, but the fightback from us was really good," McMahon said.
Mo'onia Gerrard played half the match in her return from an ankle injury, while fellow defender Bianca Chatfield made her comeback from a knee problem during the World Series.
"It's definitely nice to have those two back," said McMahon, who was rested from the World Series as a precaution after knee surgery ruled her out of last year's internationals.
Rebecca Bulley replaced Gerrard in the third term and the Diamonds maintained their momentum to move seven goals ahead.
England pulled the margin back to four goals going into the final change.
Pratley moved out to goal attack and McMahon to goal shooter while Renae Hallinan and Bulley continued to pull in the intercepts.
Midcourters Natalie von Bertouch and Kimberlee Green drove strongly as the Australians took control.
The win was Australia's second in three matches against England in the space of four days.
The home side won their round robin match of the Netball World Series on Saturday, their first victory over Australia in 26 years.
But the Australians turned the tables in the play-offs to finish the tournament third behind champions New Zealand and second-placed Jamaica.
The series was played under new "Fast Net" rules in Manchester with matches lasting just 24 minutes, shooting allowed from outside the goal circle, Power Play quarters where goals are worth double points and unlimited rolling substitutions.
Australia will next travel from the UK to Jamaica for two tests, while England host the world No 2-ranked Silver Ferns on Friday.
- AAP
