Garbin stars as Australia down England in netball Test
A near-flawless shooting display from Sophie Garbin has underpinned Australia’s 13-goal victory against England in the first netball Test.
Garbin converted 46 from 48 shots at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday night as the Diamonds triumphed 70-57 to lead the three-Test series.
The Australians made an early move in the first quarter, seizing momentum with five consecutive goals to create a 12-7 advantage.
Coach Stacey Marinkovich fielded a largely established starting seven and attackers Garbin and Kiera Austin cashed in.
Goal shooter Garbin produced a blemish-free first term, converting all her 12 shots, and compatriot Austin missed just once.
Austin put an exclamation point on the Diamonds’ dominant opening with a long-range effort giving Australia a 17-12 lead at the first break.
The Australians, with captain Liz Watson and Paige Hadley controlling the midcourt, skipped seven goals clear early in the second stanza.
And defenders Sarah Klau and Sunday Aryang kept the pressure on England’s Roses with a couple of interceptions helping Australia advance to an 11-goal halftime advantage, 37-26.
Star shooter Garbin went to the long break with 24 goals from as many shots with Austin recording 13 from 14.
Coach Marinkovich made a popular first alteration to her team midway through the third period with Tilly Garrett taking over from Aryang at goal defence.
The inclusion of Garrett, an Adelaide Thunderbirds star, was wildly cheered by her 9102-strong home crowd.
England reduced the deficit to eight goals in a third quarter notable for Garbin’s only miss of the match ending her streak of 37 consecutive goals.
The Diamonds led 52-44 at the end of the third period before England narrowed the margin to five goals some five minutes into in the last quarter.
It was the closest the tourists could get before Australia finished with a flourish.
Australia now boast 79 wins from 88 games against England and will seek to extend that imposing record in the second Test in Sydney on Sunday, before the series concludes in Bendigo on Wednesday.
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