NZ lose to Australia in Netball Youth Cup final
- Dave Worsley
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
The New Zealand U21 team’s hopes of a record-breaking third successive title were ENDED when a rampant Australia prevailed 63-48 in the final of the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 in Gibraltar.
New Zealand and Australia continued their great rivalry coming into this year’s World Youth Cup, the pair having won four titles apiece in the previous eight editions and both keen to extend that record as the event is likely to be paused by World Netball in the foreseeable future.
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Having met in seven previous World Youth Cup matches, Australia squared the ledger when outclassing New Zealand in this year’s event at four wins apiece, putting their foot down with a decisive third quarter burst.
After a strong campaign, the 15-goal losing margin in the finale was a disappointing outcome for the New Zealanders but captain Amelia Walmsley was a rock throughout with her impressive presence in the shooting circle.
Defender Charlotte Manley and midcourters Taiana Day, Serina Daunakamakama, Kaiya Kepa and Josie Seymour highlighted their growing stature in the game with fine all-round performances during the tournament.
Getting away to a flyer, New Zealand rattled a nervy Australia in the opening stages. Mixing patience with steady and accurate transitional play, the New Zealanders got plenty of ball into their shooting duo of Walmsley and Sarah Guiney to bolt out to a 7-2 lead.
Slowly finding their feet, the familiar speed of Australia’s through-court play and long-range shooting of goal attack Lily Graham got them back into the contest and levelling up the scores after 10 minutes.
Both teams delivered some top-quality play, New Zealand mixing up their long and short game well while non-stop pressure and a late turnover nudged Australia to a narrow 15-14 lead at the first break.
Defence continued to be pivotal through the second quarter with respective goalkeepers Manley for New Zealand and Australia’s Charlotte Sexton featuring strongly for their respective teams.
Back-to-back intercepts for Manley helped the New Zealanders level up the scores but relentless contesting and the ability to restrict the long ball into Walmsley helped Australia retain a 27-25 lead at halftime.
Australia’s introduction of a moving shooting circle changed the momentum of the game. Quick movement and ball speed helped Lily Graham and Kayla Graham effectively split New Zealand’s defensive patters as Australia bolted out of the blocks to take control.
There was no easy path for the New Zealanders as Australia sliced through court with ruthless efficiency while Sexton continued her imposing form as the last line of defence.
Changes in personnel could not revive New Zealand’s fortunes as the side grappled to make inroads, the Australians delivering a withering 20-9 third quarter scoreline to take a stranglehold on the game when leading 47-34 at the last break.
Scoring the first four goals of the final term gave the New Zealanders a faint glimmer of hope but Australia quickly sprung back to life to deny any chance of a revival from the defending champions.
