Aussies take world netball crown

Sharelle McMahon holds aloft the World Championship trophy

Australia held their nerve to beat New Zealand 42-38 in the Netball World Championship final in Auckland.

Australia had taken a 20-27 lead at half-time but the defending champions fought back to trail only 35-32 during the third quarter.

Turnovers cost the hosts dear, however, as Australia held on for their ninth world championship title.

Earlier England lost out to Jamaica 53-52 in the third place play-off after a brave fight-back from 12 points down.

"Jamaica came out firing and we were a bit slow out of the blocks," England coach Marg Caldow said

"But I'm very proud of how the girls responded and how they came out hard, particularly towards the end.

"Jamaica played a very smart game, keeping the ball short and making us work for possession, and we found it hard to come back at them."

The final marked the seventh time Antipodean giants Australia and New Zealand had met in the competition.

And the Australians avenged the defeat to the Silver Ferns in the 2003 final.

"We have just worked so hard and sacrificed an awful lot for this," said Australia captain Liz Ellis.

"There was just so much pressure on every single attacking play that we had so there was no point where I thought we had it until the final whistle went."

In the day's other game, Malawi beat South Africa 52-49 in the fifth place play-off.