England’s netball team fell to a 68-50 defeat against Australia in the bronze-medal match at the Commonwealth Games. Following their semi-final loss to New Zealand, the Roses struggled to regain their momentum against a formidable Diamonds squad determined to bounce back from a surprise defeat to Jamaica.
The match began with high energy, as captain Fran Williams forced an early error from Australian shooter Kiera Austin, allowing Liv Tchine to give England an early advantage. However, Australia soon asserted dominance, overcoming a 9-7 deficit to establish a commanding 19-11 lead by the end of the opening quarter. Despite tactical adjustments by coach Anna Stembridge, including the introduction of Eleanor Cardwell in the third quarter to boost the offense, England could not bridge the significant gap.
Australia maintained their lead throughout the second half, demonstrating their professional caliber and shooting accuracy through Austin and Sophie Garbin. This result marks the second time England has lost to Australia in this tournament. Meanwhile, Jamaica and New Zealand are set to compete for the gold medal.
