Part Two - The agony and the agony

Photos by Sahaimi Abdullah / Getty Images AsiaPac

THIRD QUARTER

Slightly less enthusiastic dancing at half-time. It's clear we're not going to win with the way the attack line is playing. I'm hoping Norma puts her faith in Caitlin Bassett (C-Bass) at GS, Coxy off. Norma hears me, and she also replaces Fuhrmannator with the blonde bombshell Laura Geitz (Glitz) at GK.

NZ has the first centre of the third quarter and they convert the goal which puts them up by 7. This isn't a huge lead in netball, all it takes is 3 turnovers, convert your own 3 centre passes, and you're back within range. However, against the Silver Ferns it's a worry, and NZ don't seem to have made a huge amount of mistakes. They're in the box seat and we seem to just be chasing. C-Bass sinks her first shot to settle the nerves. Hers and mine.

I'm thinking the aussies will have to chip away at that 7 goal lead over the next two quarters. But suddenly NZ make a series of horrible mistakes over the course of five minutes! They become hesitant at their centre pass and send the ball flying out of court, van Dyk misses a shot and Glitz rebounds, NVB puts George under huge pressure and she can't haul in a ball close to the sideline.

The aussie crowd is holding its' breath every time the ball heads into our circle, but C-Bass is standing strong, pulling in every ball strongly, sinking everything. She's got the kiwi defence at a loss as to how to organise themselves. Unbelieveably after five minutes, we're back within 1!!! Predictably NZ calls a fake injury time-out to stop the brilliant run of the aussies. The aussie crowd is back on its' feet, going wild. Kiwi fans are silent in their seats. Amazing the difference five minutes can make in sport.

After the timeout the aussies turn it over, but they're totally committed on defence and Gerrard comes up with another inspirational intercept. She's making George work her arse off every time they are anywhere near the ball. C-Bass levels the score at the 10 minute mark. NZ haven't scored for more than 5 minutes! The scoring is even over the next little while, and our attack has found rythym and confidence. Finally we hit the front with about 6 minutes to go, aussie crowd on its' feet. But shortly after Baked Beans misses an obvious penalty on Pitman and NZ end up with a turnover to regain the lead.

For the next five minutes it's level pegging, we level, they nose ahead by 1. Tuti has finally found her radar and sinking her shots. Pitman has really come into the game and C-Bass is dominating de Bruin. Medhurst shoots a goal right on the three quarter time whistle, looks like it is through the ring in time but not according to Burgess, the goal is disallowed and the kiwis are up by 1. Brilliant fight-back by the aussies in the premiership quarter. Just need to get in front now...

FOURTH QUARTER

Williams is hobbling around but there's no way NZ will take her off. No Williams, no NZ. I'm thinking they'll switch her to GK seeing as C-Bass has had such an impact, and also seeing as she's not looking fully fit. But Ruth Aitken sticks with her lineup and so does Norma. The water polo guys have been leading the Aussie Aussie Aussie chant, and one of the photographers takes our photo with the sign. How are we going to cope with this last 15 minutes. Torture!

First 3 goals run with the centre passes, NZ up by 2. Then Williams clearly knocks a ball out of court and Baked Beans awards the kiwis the throw in. Aussies booing hysterically. Our defence is stifling, NZ edges down court, only to go back. Their timing is completely out, they're holding the ball precariously close to 3 seconds, no options in the circle, Corletto and Glitz have it covered. The aussie crowd is imploring Burgess to call a held ball. NZ has had the ball for 1.5 minutes, a long time without scoring.

Finally a penalty gives George a clear lob into van Dyk but she uses her elbows to push Glitz off and Burgess is having none of it - penalty pass awarded to Glitz. Crowd goes wild! Down the other end Bassett passes off to Medhurst when she wasn't expecting it and it's a kiwi throw in. Never mind the obstruction call that Baked Beans missed on Williams. Kiwis score and they're up by 3 with the centre pass to follow.

Trouble brewing for the aussies. But Tuti has missed another shot and Glitz drags in the rebound like her life depends on it! Henry takes a beautiful intercept in the midcourt but Burgess robs her of it and awards a penalty to Pitman - makes up for the obstruction BB missed in the last passage of play. Kiwis' turn to boo wildly.

We score and the goals go back to running with the centre passes until a poor pass by Medhurst results in a Williams intercept and the kiwis are up by 3 again. Corletto responds with a brilliant tip that she follows up herself and sends it back down court. Every pass is edge-of-the-seat stuff, Pitman pulls in a wild cross-court rainmaker, Williams gets a hand on it in the aussie circle, de Bruin narrowly misses an intercept from the throw-in, but the aussies hold their nerve to score. Medhurst follows this up with some strong work on the next centre pass and we're within 1 with 6 minutes to go.

Goals running with centres again, Tuti still not convincing but lands one, long shot by Bassett is heart-attack inducing but sinks, van Dyk loses Glitz to receive alone under the post, Bassett takes a Medhurst offload strongly. Whose nerve is going to break now? Glitz manoeuvres van Dyk under the ball and picks up the crumbs, and good patient work from Medhurst and repositioning by C-Bass results in a goal - scores level with 4 minutes to go! Aussie centre pass!

C-Bass left under the post and she puts us up by 1, crowd on its' feet again. Kiwis level. Medhurst misses a long shot, van Dyk scores. Kiwis back in front with 2 minutes remaining, and centre pass to follow. "BREAK IT" we are screaming! Both aussie defenders are out of play a metre away from the post. Heart sinks. Tuti lines up for the shot... and unbelieveably misses! van Dyk rebounds, looks like she has leant on the post which should be an aussie free pass but it doesn't come - kiwis by 2! Booing!

Great view of the clock from our seats - 1 minute 15 seconds left, there's not enough time, there's not enough time!!! Someone needs to cover themselves in glory here!

Aussies are rushing it back for the centre pass, need to take a risk with a quick lob into C-Bass, she misses it but it's an obstruction penalty - 1 goal the difference! Less than a minute to go! The clock stops at 1 minute remaining so we don't know how much time is left. Unless we break the kiwi centre it's all over...

Williams holds the ball up near the transverse line, Medhurst stands her ground in front of her, Williams steps in to pass, somehow Medhurst ends up with the ball in her hands - unbelieveable!!! Did that really just happen?! Gotta score quick, gotta score quick! de Bruin intercept! It's all happening! Confusion over where the throw-in should be, wasting time, hurry up! NVB finally takes the throw-in, C-Bass just hangs onto the ball, pots it, SCORES LEVEL!!! NO IDEA HOW MUCH TIME LEFT!!! Surely only a few seconds, we can win this if we're quick enough!

Quick centre pass, predictable long bomb into C-Bass, she beats de Bruin and Williams to it and steps in closer, can't see, can't see, has she got it? It's missed!!! Is there a penalty??? Full time called by BB, is there a penalty, is there a penalty??!!! NO!!! SCORES LEVEL AT FULL-TIME!!!! We're going into extra-time!

Deja vu! Why does this keep happening between these two teams, girls, you've gotta stop doing this to us!!!