Coach Wai Taumaunu celebrated the start of a new era in a long-standing rivalry with a heart-stopping 49-48 win over Australia in her first test in charge of the Silver Ferns in Perth today.

In their first clash since Australia’s epic one-goal extra time win over the Silver Ferns at the world championship final in July, today’s win gave the New Zealanders a 2-1 lead in the five-test Constellation Cup series after both teams had one win apiece after matches played in June.

With the Silver Ferns dominating for most of the match and leading by as many as 11 goals during the third quarter, the introduction of twin towers Caitlin Bassett and Susan Fuhrmann at both ends on their home court went very close to stealing an unlikely win for Australia.

Taking the lead for the first time with 4-1/2 minutes to go, Australia looked to have done enough to consign the Silver Ferns to another close loss before a crucial Joline Henry steal turned the match New Zealand’s way.

There were no surprises in either line-up, the Silver Ferns opting to play Anna Scarlett and Leana de Bruin as their in-circle defensive pairing while Australia welcomed back Mo’onia Gerrard, Julie Corletto and Laura Geitz from injury for their defensive strike power.

The Silver Ferns made the best of starts, their sharp and slick through court play well supported by shooters Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia who showed an early dominance of the circle.

Finding an easy path through the midcourt, the visitors raced out to a seven-goal lead on the back of van Dyk’s accuracy and Tutaia’s trademark long-range bombs. The pair proved an irrepressible combination under the hoop while Australia struggled for fluency on attack and accuracy on the shot.

The Silver Ferns made the most of their strong start as they skipped out to an 18-13 lead at the first break.

The Diamonds suffered an early setback on the resumption, Corletto being replaced by Rebecca Bulley after suffering a reoccurring thigh injury. Showing more intensity and improved finishing, Australia ate into the Silver Ferns lead to peg the margin back to just two.

With Australian shooters Catherine Cox and Natalie Medhurst finding their range, Scarlett and de Bruin stepped up the defensive pressure to great effect. Their dogged efforts and disruptive tactics inspired a wayward spell from the Australians enabling the Silver Ferns to rebuild a cushion.

The misses proved costly for Australia where at halftime they had converted just 62 percent of their attempts compared to the Silver Ferns 84 percent helping the visitors push out to a 28-22 halftime lead.

The second half was delayed briefly when the lights at Burswood Dome failed, the restart issuing significant changes to the Diamonds line-up.

Needing to resurrect the shooting fortunes, Bassett took over from Cox, while Kimberlee Green went from centre to wing defence for Gerrard and Madison Browne came off the bench and into centre. For the Silver Ferns, the teenaged Kayla Cullen came on at wing defence for Joline Henry.

The changes, initially, did little to ease Australia’s woes as the Silver Ferns took complete control on the back of some inspiring play from de Bruin and ever-present captain Laura Langman as the New Zealanders eased out to an 11-goal advantage.

Australia charged back in the latter stages of the stanza, building on a strong defensive effort and accurate finishing to come right back into contention as the Silver Ferns went to the last break with a much-reduced margin on the back of a 40-35 lead.

That set the scene for a stirring final quarter as the teams went toe-to-toe in the run home.

The fourth test in the series will be played in Adelaide on Wednesday night.