Australia began the second group stage with
an easy ten-point win over the Auld Enemy. The teams traded blows before
England were the first to break the cycle in the ninth minute. The Diamonds
responded, however, and not even a spectacular coast-to-coast pass by Eboni
Beckford-Chambers to goal shooter Jo Harten could stem the yellow and green tide.
With a 12-9 lead at the first change, the
hosts began to tighten the screws; Renae Hallinan and Julie Corletto were
particularly active, the latter notching her fiftieth test cap and bumping
Sharni Layton from the starting seven. Caitlin Bassett continued to be reliable
up front, helping Australia to a 25-20 advantage after a statistically even
first half.
Goal attack Natalie Medhurst was the star
of the third quarter, crumbing loose balls in the forward line like a female
Cyril Rioli. England brought on pint-sized goal attack Helen Housby, who was no
match for the solid gialloverdi
defence, and the margin sat on eight goals for most of the term.
With the match in the bag, Bassett could be
subbed off for her fellow Caitlin, Thwaites. Laura Geitz, with “eyes only for
the ball” as commentator Liz Ellis is fond of saying, laid a good old-fashioned
shirtfront on English centre Jade Clarke in what was the most eventful moment
of an uneventful final quarter. The ill-disciplined and physically out-muscled inglesas should be no match for the
Silver Ferns in the semi-finals.
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