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Silver Ferns send Constellation Cup to Game Four decider
Nicholas Quinlan • October 26th, 2025 8:28 pm
The Constellation Cup will be up for grabs in Game Four, with New Zealand claiming a 61-52 victory in Hamilton on Sunday against Australia.
With a 2-nil lead in the series, the Diamonds were hoping to reclaim the trophy, which they had lost last year for only the third time in the series' 15-year history.
But their recent struggles to win across the Tasman have continued, with it now being nine straight games that they have lost in the nation.
This was despite starting the match by scoring five of the first six goals within the first five minutes of the match.
But the Silver Ferns would quickly get themselves back into the match with superstar goal shooter Grace Nweke and Georgia Heffenan having a perfect goal shooting percentage to give themselves a one-goal lead.
Neither side was able to break away from one another through the second quarter, with the lead remaining the same at the main break.
But it was in the third where New Zealand broke away from the Diamonds as they were able to score 15 of their 20 goals from centre pass, while Australia only managed nine out of their 11.
This was also helped by captain and wing defence Karin Burger, claiming three interceptions in the quarter, which helped shut down some of Australia’s attack.
The Diamonds did manage to close the gap by winning the fourth quarter, but the result was already sewn up.
Speaking post-game on Sport Nation, the versatile Kate Heffenan, who played in wing defence and centre, said that it felt like the side was back.
“It felt like we were back,” she said.
“We felt a little off, Aussie, we’re pulling us away from the game that we know that we’re good at playing.
“And as we turned that momentum in that first quarter, we were like, ‘Okay, this feels like us, this feels more familiar, and we were able to thrive off that feeling.’”
Heading into Game Four, the Diamonds can claim the series with a win.
But should they lose and the Silver Ferns win, that will see the teams enter a series tie breaker consisting of two seven minute halves to decide the winner.
The deciding Game Four will be played on October 29 at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch, with SEN having live coverage of the match available on the SEN app from 5:30pm AEDT.
