Australia’s year of total netball dominance has continued, with the Fast5 title now in the trophy cabinet for the first time in history.
Starting with the Quad Series crown in January, before taking gold in the Commonwealth Games and then victories in the Constellation Cup and England Series, ensured Australia clearly sat at the top of world netball.
But on Sunday, the Aussies added the Fast5 crown after shooter Sophie Garbin put on a stunning display against South Africa in the 34-20 win.
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The Collingwood star finished with 20 goals at 87 per cent, after only arriving in New Zealand for the tournament less than 24 hours before the first centre pass, due to her Diamonds role against England.
Australia were so dominant in the final, they held South Africa scoreless in the last quarter – despite the non scoring team getting the centre pass after each goal.
Midcourter Kelsey Browne said the squad had taken inspiration from the Diamonds recent success heading into the final.
“We knew we hadn’t won it before so it was a real bonus for us to take away the win today,” Browne said.
“We’ve been watching the Diamonds be really successful in the last few months … come finals we were sort of like, ‘Yep this is our time to shine’ and we wanted to get out there and bring home the trophy.
“We’ll celebrate, it’s been a really fun week with the girls and I’m really proud.”
Garbin, fresh off her heroics in the England series, got Australia on the board first in the final.
Taking part in that series meant she and teammate Sophie Dwyer didn’t arrive in New Zealand until less than 24 hours before Australia’s first match. But you wouldn’t know it given how seamlessly she slotted into the attack end – scoring all but one of Australia’s goals up until half time.
Both sides traded goals in the one-goal range in the opening minutes before the powerplay started and Garbin pushed the lead out to three with her double score one-goal.
“Interesting Australia just ticking away getting the twos instead of going for the big ones,” commentator Jenny Woods said.
Nichole Taljaard, who was announced Player of the Series, put South Africa in front when her two-goal zone shot dropped in the power play, meaning it counted for four, as they took a 10-9 lead into the first change.
South Africa really slowed Australia’s pace in the second term as neither side could pull away.
A smothering centre pass zone ensured the Aussies picked off the ball and Garbin converted for a two-goal buffer and once again, Australia opted for the double score one goals as the power play began.
Taljaard’s attempt at four fell short but Sammy Ngubane was able to ensure South Africa picked up two to close to within one at the main break.
Georgie Horjus did have the chance after the buzzer to add four for Australia, but she couldn’t get her shot to drop.
A strong Kim Jenner rebound in the third gave the Aussies another chance with the ball that Garbin converted to push out a three-goal lead before Sophie Dwyer landed Australia’s first goal from distance.
But Zandre Smit had the perfect response down the other end to keep the margin at four as the powerplay sounded.
Smit couldn’t get her six-goal attempt to land or the following four-goal shot as Horjus’ attempt for four rolled off the rim.
Australia held a four-goal lead at the final change as both sides traded intercepts to see out the third.
And from that point, the Aussie defence was simply unstoppable as they refused to concede a single point in the final term.
Tara Hinchliffe’s deflection gave Australia the first chance of the fourth term which Garbin converted.
Taljaard returned to the court for the final term but couldn’t convert her two-goal attempt as Horjus landed hers from the inside circle to push the margin to seven.
“It’s a real uphill battle here for South Africa,” Woods said.
“They are up against it.”
Some great defence saw South African centre Shannen Bartlett left with nowhere to go as the held ball was called and the Aussies secured their first ever Fast 5 title.
Dwyer added “salt in the wounds” landed a four-goal shot on the buzzer as Australia secured the 34-20 win.
