Netball: Australia draw first blood

Irene van Dyk of the Silver Ferns intercepts a pass from Laura Geitz to Mo'onia Gerrard of the Diamonds. Photo / Getty Images

A brand new trophy, but a familiar story line - Australia launched their quest for New Zealand's Commonwealth Games gold medal with a fast-finishing 48-43 victory in the opening trans-Tasman netball test today.

The reigning world champions showed superior composure down the stretch at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, constructing the biggest lead of the game - a five-goal buffer with four minutes to play as Sharelle McMahon and Natalie Medhurst landed the decisive blows.

The duo's spurt after the scores were locked at 41-all enabled Australia to place one hand on the Constellation Cup, though a presumed October 14 showdown in Delhi remains the primary goal.

Four of last year's five encounters were decided by four goals or less and another cliff-hanger played out today until Australia proved more polished during a tense final quarter.

Captain McMahon and Medhurst's purple patch coincided with a rare miss by Irene van Dyk, an indication the momentum had finally swung.

New Zealand had carried a slender 36-35 advantage into the final terms but were unable to sustain their challenge as the turnover count mounted.

Australia can now become the inaugural holders of the Constellation Cup with a victory in Wellington on Thursday. The series ends in Auckland on Sunday.

In a indication of the closely fought battle to follow, the scores were locked at 12-all after an opening period the Silver Ferns started brightly by silencing a surprising less than capacity crowd with the first three goals.

Inevitably McMahon and Medhurst found their range and Australia led by a slender two-goal margin at the main break.

Neither of the four shooters dominated, emphasising the excellent defensive work of both side.

Australian goal defence Mo'onia Gerrard was named player of the match for her work in curbing the influence of Maria Tutaia, and especially van Dyk.

The game's premier shooter made 23 from 28 attempts, low by her exacting standards though in keeping with her shooting rivals.

Tutaia made 20 from 27, while Medhurst nailed 24 from 30.

It was left to the 107-test veteran McMahon to lead the way: she shrugged off a thigh injury and close attention from Katrina Grant and Casey Williams to record an impressive 24 from 26.

Typifying the defensive nature of the clash, van Dyk was confined to only five attempts in the second 15-minute period as she and Tutaia struggled for space in a circle patrolled by Gerrard and Laura Geitz.

The much-anticipated match-up between opposing captains McMahon and Williams never really eventuated after the Australian started in the unfamiliar role of goal shoot.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken maintained Williams in her new position at goal defence, though she occasionally disrupted the supply to McMahon with some trademark intercepts.

Aitken made two personnel changes at halftime, Leana de Bruin replaced Grant at goal keep while Liana Barrett-Chase joined a reshuffled midcourt for Joline Henry, who needed treatment for an ankle injury late in the half.

Barrett-Chase replaced Temepara George at wing attack, the vice-captain inherited Laura Langman's centre role as the latter took Henry's defensive role.

Aitken's counterpart Norma Plummer left her changes to the final quarter, bringing on Susan Furhmann at goal keep for Laura Geitz and Kimberlee Green at wing attack for Lauren Nourse.

Meanwhile, NSW Swifts shooter Susan Pratley and rookie internationals Madison Browne and Amy Steel were overlooked for Plummer's 12-strong game day squad - an indication they might also be missing from the team to travel to India, barring injury to teammates.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken was pleased with her team's start, and strong third quarter: "But we just need to finish it off a bit better.

I think we need to look at our supply of ball into the shooting circle, and look at the way we move in that circle to promote some good easy flat ball," she told TVNZ afterwards.

Williams also pinpointed a patchy effort as a problem to be redressed.

"We had a good first and third quarter, but I don't know what happened in the second and fourth ones.

"We put them under pressure right from the start, we just need to look to do that throughout the game."

Australia 48 (Sharelle McMahon 24/26, Natalie Medhurst 24/30) New Zealand 43 (Irene van Dyk 23/28, Maria Tutaia 20/27) Halftime: 23-21

- NZPA