default-output-block.skip-main
Sport | Australia

Umpiring decisions in NZ v Australia netball final raises concerns

The Silver Ferns arrived back from the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

Last night New Zealand's World Cup dreams ended in disappointment following a loss to the Australian Diamonds, 58-55, in the final.

Despite the team losing, fans still turned out today to lift the team's spirits.

Te Kāea spoke to umpire Joan Hodson about some umpire calls which caused concern.

The remaining twelve minutes in the last quarter was a moment that could've turned the game around for the Ferns.

They were only trailing by 5 goals and Casey Kopua was called for contact by Gary Burgess.

Joan Hodson says, “I thought that Australia handled the umpires better than New Zealand and that's why they won. “

In the first quarter, Grace Rasmussen was deemed to have played the ball out of court, however some argue you can't actually see the ball cross the line.

“The umpire wasn't up to it when he was down the other end controlling it.  I thought that he struggled and found it quite difficult,” says Hodson.

It was also difficult for New Zealand to close the gap after Australia blew them out of the waters from the beginning.

Australia came away with another big win.  But now Hodson is wanting the International Federation Netball Association (IFNA) to go back to the drawing board in regards to who officiates the game.

She says, “As a woman, I would rather see women officiate their own game instead of watching two men do it and it's been like that for a long time.”