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The Silver Ferns have beaten the Australian Diamonds 49-44 in the first Test of the Constellation Cup in Christchurch.

Wednesday, 3 March 2021, 6:38 am 2 March, 2021 Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio kept her 100 percent winning record intact as the Silver Ferns delivered a well-crafted 49-44 win over Australia in the opening Constellation Cup match in Christchurch on Tuesday. Played in front of an almost empty house due to the current Level 2 Covid-19 restrictions, the situation did not deter from a typically willing and hard-fought trans-Tasman contest. The Silver Ferns are keen to get their hands on the Constellation Cup for just the second time since its inception in 2010, having won it just the once in 2012...

Phil Walter/Getty Images New Zealand's Karin Burger attempts to be first to the ball against England's George Fisher in October’s Taini Jamison Trophy series. Of those 10 starts, just four have come at goal defence – a position Taurua has indicated she will see significant court-time in against Australia. Burger did start three games at goal defence in the last Constellation Cup held in 2019, playing the full match each time, experiences she would draw on. Comfortable sliding between wing defence and goal defence, the 27-year-old is content in either role, as long as she’s on court. ...

Silver Ferns squad members form a huddle at a January training camp in Wellington. New Zealand and Australia square off on the netball court this week, albeit with no crowds due to level 2, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced last year's series to be postponed. BRENDON EGAN looks at the juicy storylines. Ferns’ chance to snap the drought? The Silver Ferns' Constellation Cup record against Australia makes for grim reading. They have captured the trophy just once previously in 2012, since it was first contested in 2010. With Australia only scheduled to get out of managed isolation on Monday, ...

 Stuff, goal keep Kelly Jury was among the high profile names not to meet the fitness criteria. Jury returned to the Silver Ferns squad for the Taini Jamison Trophy series against England in Hamilton late last year and impressed. Not having Jury for the Constellation Cup would hinder the Ferns’ defensive depth and present a major opportunity for Burger and Fitzpatrick – who are yet to establish themselves as Ferns starters. Several young premiership defenders are not yet ready for the step up to international netball, while others haven’t met strength and conditioning standards, or ar...