England’s netball team suffered a 61-54 defeat to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow’s Hydro. Coach Anna Stembridge’s squad attempted to mount pressure on their opponents beginning in the late first quarter, but were unable to establish a lead throughout the contest. New Zealand’s offensive capabilities, particularly through Grace Nweke’s strong performance, proved difficult for England to counter.
By the conclusion of the third quarter, the outcome appeared determined, with England trailing by double digits with seven minutes remaining in regulation play. Though England produced a late scoring surge with minimal response from New Zealand, the effort proved insufficient to overcome the deficit.
Player Eleanor Cardwell, who entered the game early for England, expressed disappointment with the performance while acknowledging her opponent’s superiority. She indicated the team would analyze their approach and emphasized the importance of securing a medal. Cardwell noted the contrast with a previous Commonwealth Games cycle and voiced determination to avoid repeating past disappointments.
Despite the semi-final loss, England advanced to a bronze medal match against the loser of the other semi-final between defending champion Australia and Jamaica. New Zealand progressed to the final, marking their first appearance in a Commonwealth Games final since 2014.
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