The Roses shrugged off yesterday’s defeat to Australia with a dominant performance in a 78-33 victory over Wales to get their Netball World Cup campaign back on track in Sydney this morning.
In a crucial clash, defeat for either team would signal the end of their medal ambitions. England, ranked five places higher than the Dragons, showed their class and were ruthless from start to finish. They now head into Friday’s match against South Africa in the knowledge that the winner of that game will head into the semi-finals the following day.
After impressing on her introduction against the Diamonds, Helen Housby was afforded a starting berth with Serena Guthrie reverting to her usual WD role.
Source: England Netball
England’s Serena Guthrie battles for the ball with New Zealand’s Katrina Grant (left)
Tamsin Greenway started at WA.
Tracey Neville elected to start with the defensive combination of Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Sonia Mkoloma. The decision seemed a good one as a flurry of early turnovers had England in a 9-0 lead.
When Wales eventually got on the score board, the Roses responded with wave after wave of fluent attacking play. The ball was moved at fantastic speed and the shooters took their chances. A shell shocked Dragons team did begin to hold their own in the closing stages of the opening quarter but at that stage they had already fallen 23-8 behind.
Sara Bayman took over at C for the second quarter with Jade Clarke moving into WD. Another change was quickly required with Geva Mentor replacing Mkoloma who had required treatment for a dead leg. The combination work from the attacking unit was fantastic viewing, the intelligent runs and feeding coupled with fabulously accurate shooting pushed England 42-16 ahead at the break, with 95% of chances converted.
With the result all but confirmed, more changes were made for the third quarter. The shooting line-up was overhauled with Pamela Cookey and Rachel Dunn coming on and Stacey Francis became the third WD in as many quarters. It didn’t take long for Francis to make an impact as she threw herself into action, claiming an athletic intercept as Wales started to become more of an attacking threat.
In the attacking end Dunn was unfortunate to see several attempts bounce back out but was constantly working space in the circle and showing for the ball. Her strike partner was composed and cool, sinking 100% of her efforts on goal in the match. England took a 60-26 advantage into the final quarter.
One final change was made for the final fifteen minutes with Guthrie returning to WD and Francis reverting to GD. The two players then seemed to have their own personal battle for most awe-inspiring intercept.
Guthrie threw her hat into the ring with a 360 degree twirl and release following her steal; Francis responded with a huge leap and feed off one-foot shortly afterwards. Both brought massive cheers from the bench and the England following in the stands.
It was all helping the Roses to extend their lead and it was left to Cookey to wrap up the win as she sunk her 16th shot in a row.
The challenges get progressively harder for England from now onwards. The Proteas are ranked sixth in the world and the next side to overcome if the Roses are to go onto glory in Sydney.
England starting 7: GS – Harten, GA – Housby, WA – Greenway, C – Clarke, WD – Guthrie, GD – Mkoloma, GK – Beckford-Chambers
Wales starting 7: GS – Lewis, GA – Thomas, WA – James, C – Drane, WD – Jones, GD – Williams, GK – Kidner
England shooting stats: Harten: 29/30 – 97%, Housby: 12/13 – 92%, Cookey: 16/16 – 100%, Dunn: 20/30 – 67%
