Netball: Aussies quiet on loss

Another day, another defeat to New Zealand.

It takes a bit for Australia's sports media to get excited about netball and they certainly weren't going to start yesterday in the wake of the Silver Ferns' 53-50 win in the first test in Sydney.

The gripping race for the NRL's top-eight, Robbie Deans' Wallabies beating the Springboks, the AFL playoffs, the cricket, the tennis ... there was barely enough newsprint.

Then, there it was. Page 57 of Sydney's Daily Telegraph, buried in the bottom right corner, directly opposite the death notices.

"Beaten Diamonds can still sparkle," said the headline for a brief match report as Australian coach Norma Plummer took the positives from her injury-hit side's narrow defeat.

The Sydney Morning Herald was more generous with its space, although the story was relegated to near the back and mistook defender Joline Henry for centre Temepara George in the photo caption.

The country's national newspaper, The Australian, didn't even try to sugarcoat it. It was the lead story, but in the sports briefs, either side of lengthy reports on the motor rally and the racing. "Killer Kiwis," was the headline.

While netball might elicit blank stares among Australia's sports editors, the Silver Ferns and Australians can still pull reasonable crowds across the Tasman.

There were an estimated 12,000 at Acer Arena, and the second and third tests in Melbourne tomorrow and Brisbane on Sunday are already sell-outs.

- NZPA