Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Maria Folau and Laura Landman of New Zealand celebrate after winning the World Cup Final.Phoyo: Getty ImagesThe Silver Ferns, these marvellous mavens, are world champions. In a spooky similarity, the last New Zealand team, led by Ruth Aitken and Anna Stanley (nee Rowberry), to claim a World Cup title also broke a 16 year drought. Today the Silver Ferns dethroned Australia, 11-time champions and winners of the last three World Cup titles. Since 2007, that trio has stomached three successive World Cup final losses to Australia. After withstanding the inevitable Australian onslaught the Ferns turned with a four-goal buffer for the final quarter.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 21, 2019 18:22 UTC