The rivalry: THAT match in Delhi
October 15, 2015
Silver Ferns win Commonwealth Games gold in 2010 © Photosport
In the latest instalment of our ‘Rivalry Series’, silverferns.co.nz looks back on THAT match at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
A game that had millions - lovers of Netball or not - glued to their seats in front of their televisions, as the Silver Ferns and Australia played out an epic double extra-time battle for gold.
A match that will forever be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.
Be there when Netball’s greatest rivalry returns to New Zealand soil when the Silver Ferns take on the Diamonds in the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup – GET TICKETS!
Golden Ferns win thriller against OZ Netballers
By David Leggat and Dylan Cleaver
The New Zealand Herald
New Delhi, India, October 14, 2010
The Silver Ferns brought New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games to a golden conclusion tonight, beating Australia in the most dramatic fashion possible, a 66-64 extended extra time thriller.
In one of the great displays of clutch shooting, Maria Tutaia nailed the victory on the two-goal rule after the scores were deadlocked following extra time.
Time and again Irene van Dyk, the best shooter in the history of the game, deferred to the ice-cool 23-year-old and every time she hit nothing but net.
“I’m just lost for words. We knew it was going to be a game like this,” a jubilant Tutaia said.
“I’m just so stoked. My calves were cramping up, that’s why I was getting a bit worried,” she said. “I’ll tell you what: I can’t even talk.”
The Aucklander admitted to nerves as the pressure mounted, though she never showed it.
VOTE – SKY Sport Moment of the Year
The Silver Ferns — defending the netball gold they won four years ago in Melbourne — have been on the end of plenty of tear-jerking losses to Australia.
But this would have topped the lot after they blew a seven-goal lead in the final quarter.
New Zealand ended the Games with 35 medals, six of them gold.
If there was a table for coming second, New Zealand would be fourth, having collected 22 silvers over the 11 days.
The tally is three more than in Melbourne, when it was acknowledged that they had a poor Games.
In tonight’s game, Ferns coach Ruth Aitken opted to start Katrina Grant at goal keep alongside captain Casey Williams.
Temepara George started at wing attack, and Laura Langman and Joline Henry filled out the midcourt.
Tutaia started at goal attack alongside Van Dyk, but it was a combination that struggled to gel in the first quarter, when the shooting accuracy floundered on 69 percent.
The opening quarter was not much of an advertisement for the sport, with countless penalties and several errors — not unusual in matches of such importance between the two great rivals.
Australia led, 10-9, at the first break, and had extend extended that to 23-20 at halftime.
VOTE – Woman’s Day People’s Choice
New Zealand, who seemed to have the lion’s share of neutral support at Thyagaraj Stadium, were nowhere near hitting their straps.
In midcourt there was no rhythm — Langman and George seemed to be playing to different instructions — so it came as no surprise when Aitken shuffled her cards.
Anna Scarlett came on in place of Henry at wing defence, and Liana Barrett-Chase took George's bib.
Immediately the pair added a sense of urgency and, in Barrett-Chase’s case, some coherence through the attacking third.
But Australia looked in desperate need of fresh legs as New Zealand clawed back the three-goal deficit and then some, leading 35-33 into the final quarter.
The roll they established in the final minutes of the third quarter continued in the fourth. Suddenly, with Aussie captain Sharelle McMahon calling for treatment, New Zealand had what looked like a near-unbeatable lead.
But never count out a wounded Australian squad. Catherine Cox came on in place of Natalie Medhurst and immediately the lead was reduced to two.
Cox can have her off days; this wasn’t one of them. She came out red hot and stayed hot until, twice, she had a shot to win at the end.
But Tutaia didn’t miss, sparking scenes of jubilation, as players rolling on the floor and embraced in ecstasy. There were tears too, but for all the right reasons.
Australia’s tears would have tasted much more bitter.
In the bronze-medal playoff, England were far too good for Jamaica, winning 70-47.
A game that had millions - lovers of Netball or not - glued to their seats in front of their televisions, as the Silver Ferns and Australia played out an epic double extra-time battle for gold.
A match that will forever be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.
Be there when Netball’s greatest rivalry returns to New Zealand soil when the Silver Ferns take on the Diamonds in the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup – GET TICKETS!
Golden Ferns win thriller against OZ Netballers
By David Leggat and Dylan Cleaver
The New Zealand Herald
New Delhi, India, October 14, 2010
The Silver Ferns brought New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games to a golden conclusion tonight, beating Australia in the most dramatic fashion possible, a 66-64 extended extra time thriller.
In one of the great displays of clutch shooting, Maria Tutaia nailed the victory on the two-goal rule after the scores were deadlocked following extra time.
Time and again Irene van Dyk, the best shooter in the history of the game, deferred to the ice-cool 23-year-old and every time she hit nothing but net.
“I’m just lost for words. We knew it was going to be a game like this,” a jubilant Tutaia said.
“I’m just so stoked. My calves were cramping up, that’s why I was getting a bit worried,” she said. “I’ll tell you what: I can’t even talk.”
The Aucklander admitted to nerves as the pressure mounted, though she never showed it.
VOTE – SKY Sport Moment of the Year
The Silver Ferns — defending the netball gold they won four years ago in Melbourne — have been on the end of plenty of tear-jerking losses to Australia.
But this would have topped the lot after they blew a seven-goal lead in the final quarter.
New Zealand ended the Games with 35 medals, six of them gold.
If there was a table for coming second, New Zealand would be fourth, having collected 22 silvers over the 11 days.
The tally is three more than in Melbourne, when it was acknowledged that they had a poor Games.
In tonight’s game, Ferns coach Ruth Aitken opted to start Katrina Grant at goal keep alongside captain Casey Williams.
Temepara George started at wing attack, and Laura Langman and Joline Henry filled out the midcourt.
Tutaia started at goal attack alongside Van Dyk, but it was a combination that struggled to gel in the first quarter, when the shooting accuracy floundered on 69 percent.
The opening quarter was not much of an advertisement for the sport, with countless penalties and several errors — not unusual in matches of such importance between the two great rivals.
Australia led, 10-9, at the first break, and had extend extended that to 23-20 at halftime.
VOTE – Woman’s Day People’s Choice
New Zealand, who seemed to have the lion’s share of neutral support at Thyagaraj Stadium, were nowhere near hitting their straps.
In midcourt there was no rhythm — Langman and George seemed to be playing to different instructions — so it came as no surprise when Aitken shuffled her cards.
Anna Scarlett came on in place of Henry at wing defence, and Liana Barrett-Chase took George's bib.
Immediately the pair added a sense of urgency and, in Barrett-Chase’s case, some coherence through the attacking third.
But Australia looked in desperate need of fresh legs as New Zealand clawed back the three-goal deficit and then some, leading 35-33 into the final quarter.
The roll they established in the final minutes of the third quarter continued in the fourth. Suddenly, with Aussie captain Sharelle McMahon calling for treatment, New Zealand had what looked like a near-unbeatable lead.
But never count out a wounded Australian squad. Catherine Cox came on in place of Natalie Medhurst and immediately the lead was reduced to two.
Cox can have her off days; this wasn’t one of them. She came out red hot and stayed hot until, twice, she had a shot to win at the end.
But Tutaia didn’t miss, sparking scenes of jubilation, as players rolling on the floor and embraced in ecstasy. There were tears too, but for all the right reasons.
Australia’s tears would have tasted much more bitter.
In the bronze-medal playoff, England were far too good for Jamaica, winning 70-47.