Wallam sinks match winner in Diamonds debut

Donnell Wallam has helped the Origin Australian Diamonds to a 55-54 victory over England with a heart-stopping final goal that will go down in sporting history.

Wallam, Diamond #189, sunk a goal with just a second on the clock to lead the home side to victory after stepping on court to make her debut just minutes earlier.

With scores level with less than 30 seconds to play, the Diamonds turned the ball over before Kate Moloney took a ripping intercept to win it back.

The ball then found its way into Wallam through Maddy Proud who, in trademark style, produced a netball ‘layup’ for the ages, bringing the crowd to its feet.

It was a game of swinging momentum at Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

English Rose Eleanor Cardwell opened proceedings for the visitors off the first centre pass.

The Diamonds looked on top courtesy of relentless defensive pressure form Sarah Klau, Courtney Bruce and Jamie-Lee Price while at the other end Swifts duo Paige Hadley and Proud combined well to feed Sophie Garbin at the post.

Kiera Austin also injected herself into the game during the last five minute of the first term, proving a cool head in the shooting circle when England worked their way back into the match.

Bruce and Klau impressed on the stats sheet with three deflections each while Garbin was sitting at 11/12.

You couldn’t split the sides going into the first break at 14 apiece. But it took just minutes for a break in the game through a Geva Mentor deflection.

The Diamonds threw the ball away twice in attack resulting in the Roses pushing their lead out to five at the eight-minute mark before they were able to win one back.

Jo Weston came into the game at goal defence midway through the second term while Bruce took a seat.

The Roses continued chipping away at the home side before Diamonds England Series skipper Hadley steadied the ship with a vital deflection helping bring the Diamonds back to just a goal behind.

With a few minute to play to the half the Diamonds found their rhythm, moving the ball quickly into Garbin and Austin, not allowing the English time to set up behind the ball.

The combination of Proud and Hadley was impressive around the circle. The pair finished with 12 and 13 feeds respectively.

Austin was also vital, taking 10 centre pass receives.

Roses goalers Cardwell and Helen Housby were a force, with Cardwell sinking 22/26 and Housby 5/6 by the half.

Mentor and England goal defence Francesca Williams took five intercepts between them.

Despite trailing by five goals at several points in the quarter the Diamonds were able to bring it back to a goal 26-27 by the main break.

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich made a few changes at the half bringing Kate Moloney into wing defence and switching Proud into wing attack and Hadley into centre.

The changes were immediately noticeable with the Aussies regaining the lead early.

At the six-minute mark Cara Koenen was brought into the game at goal attack while Austin took a rest.

She injected some height into the shooting circle, proving an asset to Garbin under the post.

Weston and Hadley were impressive in the third with two gains helping the Diamonds to regain a three goal leading into the final quarter at Newcastle.

Wallam stepped out on court at the 10-minute mark to make her debut for the Diamonds to a huge roar from the crowd. She finished with 8/8 in her debut, one of those being the winning shot.

Proud finished the match as MVP with 36 feeds and four gains.

The Diamonds will now turn their attention to game two against the Roses in Sydney on Sunday.