NETBALL: The Australian Diamonds have farewelled retiring captain Clare McMeniman by retaining the Constellation Cup with a 49-45 win against New Zealand in Invercargill.

The Diamonds under McMeniman won the series 3-1, including two wins from two games in New Zealand.

McMeniman was in the thick of the action to the final minute of her international career.

With one minute on the clock, the Ferns fought to within two goals. A pickup from McMeniman and some swift movements saw the Diamonds seal the victory with two late goals in the last 30 seconds.

McMeniman played her first netball in the Warwick association and made her first representative team while a student at Warwick West State School.

"To send Clare out as captain, I am just terribly proud of all the girls,” coach Lisa Alexander said.

"They put in lots and lots of work and our support staff and bench were magnificent as well so it's very very pleasing.”

With both teams opting to keep their same starting seven as the third Test, the Diamonds applied pressure from the opening whistle, causing a turnover from the first centre pass.　

The Diamonds led 13-9 at the end of the first quarter and 22-19 at the main break.　

"It was a great contest for all of us defensively. Madi Robinson and Gabi Simpson did an amazing job out the front,” McMeniman said.　

"There were passages where they were having to play the ball all the way back to their defensive transverse line to open up opportunities and I thought that pressure really enabled us to win more ball and force more errors."　

The Diamonds outscored the Ferns 14-13 with three less attempts at goal and just one misfire in the third quarter.　

Pressure was applied across the court from both teams.

"There were passages where the ball was coming up and back with no goals scored, which is testament to both teams and the pressure they were applying throughout the full match,” McMeniman said.

The pressure stepped up another notch into the final term, both sides finding an extra inch. Maria Tutaia kept the Australian defenders on their toes with her shots from range, much to the delight of the Invercargill crowd.　

McMeniman's retirement is from international and national league netball.