England have ended the Origin Australian Diamonds unbeaten run in Cape Town, defeating the Aussies by a single goal (56-55) in a nail-biting finish.
The Roses managed to chase down an eight-goal Diamonds lead in the second half to turn the game in their fortune, breaking the hearts of Australian netball fans.
The Diamonds impressed for much of the match but it was England’s accuracy under the post that hurt. Eleanor Cardwell and Helen Housby only missed one goal between them with Housby shooting at 100 per cent.
It was a defenders match though, with Sarah Klau having her breakout game for the tournament with three gains. While Jo Weston kept the Diamonds hopes alive by taking an incredible intercept as the clocked ticked down.
The game started as anticipated with the sides trading goals for the opening five minutes before England got back-to-back breaks through Imogen Allison and Laura Malcom in the midcourt.
England’s defensive pressure forced the Diamonds to send the ball back or into uncharacteristic errors.
Australian captain Liz Watson was the Diamonds' best player on court with 47 feeds and only two turnovers.Ash Brazill was outstanding early and worked hard to shutdown Roses skipper Nat Metcalfe who only had five feeds in the opening quarter.
Adelaide Thunderbird Cardwell was difficult to stop though, with Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich sending Klau in at goal keeper with five minutes to go.
It gave Cardwell something new to think about with Klau’s ability to confuse the space forcing England to send the ball over the baseline twice.
Australia went into the quarter time break two goals down but managed to turn the tables in the second off the back of immense defensive pressure.
The Diamonds took the lead at the eight-minute mark and outscored the Roses 19-11 in the second term.
Steph Wood was calm under pressure shooting 14/15 from the half, with Koenen also accurate (18/19).
This is the first time the Diamonds have lost to England at a World Cup.Taking a six-goal lead into the main break, the Diamonds could always expect England to come at them.
And they did.
England went on a seven-goal run to reduce the margin to one in the third term. Cardwell’s time in Suncorp Super Netball has paid dividends with her long-range shooting and ability to sink them from anywhere a big problem.
Australia’s shooters were working overtime to find space under the post with England’s defence suffocating the Diamonds attack.
Jamie-Lee Price we injected late in the third at centre before Kiera Austin got her first minutes at goal attack. Her impact instant, slotting her first goal from long range.
But it was the Roses who managed to regain the lead and maintain it until the final whistle, marking the first time the Diamonds have lost to England at a World Cup.
England's Helen Housby was named player of the match while for the Diamonds it was Liz Watson who was a standout with 47 feeds and only two turnovers.
The loss means the Diamonds will play Jamaica in a semi final showdown on Saturday.
