Despite matching the Australian men in the first quarter, the New Zealand Net Blacks were unable to keep up for the full 60 minutes, losing 75-30 due to a commanding second quarter from the Kelpies.
The second game in the four-match Trans-Tasman Cup saw another fast-paced, physical encounter putting men’s netball on showcase.
After a 50-goal thumping in Wellington, the Net Blacks were looking for a much-improved performance against the Australian Kelpies.
Their promising start had the Spark Arena crowd pumped, finishing the first quarter with just a one-goal deficit.
The two teams traded goals in the first five minutes, with the Net Blacks’ defence able to disrupt the Kelpies’ attack.
A few errors from the Kiwis allowed Australia to edge in front, but the Net Blacks’ relentless efforts on defence, including three rebounds allowed New Zealand back in.
Oceon Grady came on early at goal defence and his endless fight in his second test kept the Net Blacks in the contest early, finishing with eight gains and remaining low on turnovers.
Australia’s one-on-one smothering defence forced patience from the Net Blacks, and when the Net Blacks found space, the ball flowed easily. Confident feeds from wing attack Te Matahiapo Hynes gave Mikaira Raerino space for his trademark jumping lay-up shots.
The Kelpies won the first quarter of the first test by nine goals, and after being up by just one in this test, 15-14, it forced a change in their shooting end.
The Net Blacks struggled to contain the new addition to the court, 206cm Australian goal shoot Liam Killey and their attack began to stutter in the second quarter. A massive 17-goal run from the Kelpies saw the Kelpies take an unassailable 37-17 lead at half-time, which the Kiwis couldn’t come back from.
The Net Blacks just couldn’t find their shooters, and any missed shots were snatched up by the Kelpies defence.
In just his second international test match, Raerino shot 21 goals from 21 attempts but needed more ball from his feeders as the game progressed. The Net Blacks finished with a shooting accuracy of 86 percent, but most of their turnovers came in the attacking end.
New Zealand were too expensive with their turnovers, but will take confidence from the first quarter that they can keep up with the Kelpies.
Despite the horror second quarter, the Net Blacks showed an improved performance, limiting the Kelpies to less goals than the first test, while also reducing the 50-goal deficit to 45.
The series now heads over the ditch for the last two matches, with the Net Blacks aiming to continue to shrink their losing deficits.