England fell to a 55-49 defeat in the deciding match of the three-Test Vitality International series against New Zealand at Manchester’s AO Arena.
The Silver Ferns took the series after New Zealand won the opening game at the Copper Box Arena, England recovered to win the second Test and level the series, but errors cost the Roses in the decider. England led 14-11 after the first quarter but began to give the ball away in the second, allowing New Zealand to edge in front and take a two-goal lead into half-time.
England fought back in the third quarter, with Funmi Fadoju and Helen Housby influencing the attack, but New Zealand still emerged 42-38 ahead at the final break and held on in the closing period.
Head coach Jess Thirlby made alterations to England’s attacking combinations during the contest, but said sloppy possession and an inability to apply scoreboard pressure proved decisive. “I just found there was so much more for us to give and wanted them to take the shackles off. It’s really disappointing because we gave them the ball today,” Thirlby said. “If you don’t get the scoreboard pressure on them, it’s an uphill battle from there. It’s told us a lot about ourselves.”
New Zealand’s Kelly Jackson, named player of the match, reflected on the result: “It was an awesome game. We were really disappointed with that loss the other day, and it’s been a big three months for us and we really wanted to finish on a high. We’ve got a big break now. We deserve it. We don’t come together [again] until January.”
England will now prepare for the Vitality Netball Horizon Series in Jamaica next month, with two Tests scheduled in Kingston on December 6 and 7 and two further fixtures back at London’s Copper Box Arena on December 13 and 14.
Series results vs New Zealand:
– November 15, Copper Box: England 58-61 New Zealand
– November 16, Copper Box: England 61-58 New Zealand
– November 19, AO Arena, Manchester: England 49-55 New Zealand
Times and broadcast arrangements are subject to change.
