Australia 36
New Zealand 33
A much-improved Silver Ferns performance wasn't enough to avert back-to-back netball defeats to Australia, who won the third test 36-33 tonight.
In captain Sharelle McMahon's 100th test, the hosts held their nerve better throughout an intense, low-scoring contest marked by tough defence from both sides at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre.
New Zealand trailed 27-28 entering the final quarter but couldn't peg back the Australians who take a 2-1 series lead into the fourth and fifth tests in Invercargill on September 20 and Auckland on September 23.
There was a crucial moment midway through the final quarter, at 31-33, when Silver Ferns wing attack Temepara George rolled her ankle but had to move to the sideline because it was her second timeout of the quarter.
Gun Australian shooter Susan Pratley rattled in two quick goals, the first with George absent, and the Silver Ferns were too far adrift.
Giant Australian goal keep Susan Fuhrmann, at 1.96m, was named player of the match as she made life a misery for her opposite Irene van Dyk.
The normally radar-like van Dyk hit just 16 of 22 of her shots, while 21-year-old goal attack Paula Griffin was impressive in general play for the first three quarters in her first start against Australia and hit 15 of 22.
Maria Tutaia was introduced for the final quarter and made just two of six as New Zealand ended with 66 per cent to Australia's 80 per cent. McMahon made 15 of 19 and Pratley 21 of 26.
While Australian coach Norma Plummer retained an unchanged starting lineup from their 48-44 second test win in Melbourne, her counterpart Ruth Aitken rang the changes.
Captain Casey Williams shifted from goal keep to goal defence, swapping places with Katrina Grant, while Joline Henry came into wing defence and Griffin usurped regular goal attack Tutaia.
It did the trick initially as the Silver Ferns started with much more fire then their insipid first half in Melbourne, to lead 10-7 at the quarter break.
The shooters struggled at both ends against some torrid defence, with the Williams/Grant combination an effective one, and Fuhrmann causing problems for van Dyk and Griffin.
Bodies hit the deck at regular intervals, with Williams' head slamming to the floor and Laura Langman tumbling over twice and requiring bandaging to a cut knee.
New Zealand went on a five-goal run to lead 16-13 midway through the second quarter but the hosts fought back as the lead seesawed to the main break.
Van Dyk had eight from 13 at halftime while McMahon had six from 10, with the Silver Ferns shooting just 64 per cent in the first half to Australia's 72 per cent.
Neither coach made halftime changes as the players continued their intense duels in the third quarter and the lead changed hands regularly.
There was more of the same excellent defence from the New Zealand trio at the back, led by Williams, but the home shooters were more accurate to take a one-goal lead at the final interval.
Aitken injected Tutaia for Griffin in the final quarter in the only change by either coach.
- NZPA
