Australia has gained one other Quad Sequence title after defeating arch rivals New Zealand in a closing marred by some of the controversial moments of umpiring in current netball historical past.
The Diamonds overcame an early deficit in Cape City to say a 56-50 win over the Silver Ferns, nevertheless it was an incident within the fourth quarter that had gamers and commentators in disbelief.
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As New Zealand captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio nailed a purpose, her teammate Grace Nweke and Diamonds defender Courtney Bruce tangled off the ball in a scuffle that noticed them each fall to the court docket sprawling.
However, distracted by the argy bargy, umpire Anso Kemp mentioned she didn’t see the purpose, despite the fact that she began to sign it had gone in.
Fellow umpire Gary Burgess mentioned he missed the purpose as nicely as a result of he was watching downcourt as a substitute.
The 2 umpires conferred and determined that as a result of neither of them had watched the ball go within the hoop with their very own eyes and with out entry to a VAR-style replay system, Ekenasio’s purpose couldn’t depend.
In weird scenes out of a basketball recreation, the umpires determined to have a toss up, which is never ever seen in netball.
Commentator Jenny Woods mentioned: “How is it you might have a state of affairs the place neither umpire sees whether or not or not the purpose is scored. It’s extraordinary.
“That is nuts! We now have proof of the purpose being scored.
“Absolutely they might have gone to the bench!
“We now have seen every thing now on this recreation.”
Australian legend Cath Cox was left shocked by the umpiring controversy.
“I can not imagine my eyes!” she mentioned on Fox Netball
“We’ll must be sure that doesn’t occur once more. Wow, wow, wow.
“I haven’t seen that occur in any recreation I can bear in mind.”
Remarkably, Kemp informed Burgess the purpose “wasn’t scored” so he declared it must be a “throw in Australia”.
“I don’t know what to recommend if I’m sincere,” Burgess mentioned in phrases you by no means hear out of a sporting official’s mouth.”
The incident overshadowed a wonderful comeback by the Diamonds after they conceded 19 targets within the first quarter.
Neither crew made a substitution all through the sport as each coaches opted to maintain their beginning line-up on court docket for the total 60 minutes.
Nweke was considered one of New Zealand’s finest with 39 targets at 87 per cent accuracy, whereas Australian purpose assault Steph Wooden as soon as once more placed on a clinic within the entrance third alongside Cara Koenen.
Veteran wing defence Ash Brazill, recalled into Australia’s squad after lacking the second half of final 12 months, staked her declare for a spot on the World Cup with a number of intercepts and deflections.
The victory sealed Australia’s seventh Quad Sequence title and is a welcome confidence enhance for the Diamonds forward of the Netball World Cup in South Africa in July.
The World Cup, held by New Zealand, is the one main trophy lacking from Australia’s cupboard after a profitable 2022.
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