England netball has advanced to the semi-finals of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after a 58-54 comeback victory against South Africa. The win sets up a semi-final match against New Zealand, a repeat of the bronze-medal match from the previous edition of the Games. This marks England‘s qualification for the netball semi-finals, a stage they have consistently reached in past tournaments.
The match saw South Africa, known as the Proteas, take an early lead in the first quarter, establishing a 17-11 advantage. Elmere van der Berg was a key player for South Africa during this period. However, England, referred to as the Roses, began to close the gap in the second quarter. Defensive changes introduced by Anna Stembridge, bringing in Funmi Fadoju and Halimat Adio, were instrumental in stemming South Africa‘s attack. Halimat Adio, in particular, made crucial interceptions and forced turnovers.
By half-time, England had reduced the deficit to just one point, trailing 29-28. The momentum shifted further in England‘s favour in the third quarter. An injury to South Africa‘s Khanyise Chawane disrupted their mid-court play, allowing England to take the lead. Liv Tchine‘s clinical shooting, combined with strong links with Lois Pearson, helped England build a four-point lead by the end of the third quarter, making the score 43-39.
England’s Resilient Performance
The final quarter saw England maintain their composure, not conceding a turnover or missing a shot until the final minute. Lois Pearson‘s accurate shooting, including a perfect 14 from 14 at one point, along with Liv Tchine‘s contributions, proved vital. Despite South Africa‘s efforts to close the gap, England held firm, securing the 58-54 victory.
Halimat Adio, a goal keeper for England, expressed excitement about reaching her first Commonwealth Games semi-final. She highlighted the team’s mindset of not giving up, stating that they focused on maintaining a winning attitude throughout the match. Adio also described her defensive style as “chaotic,” focusing on mind games and drawing inspiration from other players like Australia‘s Courtney Bruce.
The match was described as increasingly physical in the final stages, with England successfully managing possession and running down the clock. Nia Jones commented on England‘s character, noting their recovery from a “nervy start” and crediting Stembridge‘s tactical changes. For South Africa, Elmere van der Berg acknowledged that complacency might have set in after their strong start.
Upcoming Schedule and Other Results
The win means England will face New Zealand in the netball semi-finals on Saturday. New Zealand were the bronze medallists at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The netball schedule for the upcoming days also includes classification matches for positions 11th versus 12th, 9th versus 10th, 7th versus 8th, and 5th versus 6th.
Beyond netball, the Commonwealth Games schedule for the day includes various other events. Bowls and Para-bowls competitions are scheduled from 08:30 to 14:00 and again from 15:00 to 22:00. Athletics and Para-athletics events will run from 10:00 to 14:30, with 10 finals taking place later in the evening from 18:30 to 22:00. Track cycling and Para-track cycling also feature prominently, with seven finals scheduled between 16:00 and 20:15.
Judo quarter-finals are set for 11:00 to 14:00, followed by five gold medal matches from 16:00 to 18:45 at the SEC Centre. Boxing semi-finals are spread across three sessions: 10:30 to 12:30, 14:30 to 17:00, and 19:00 to 21:30. Earlier in the day, Uganda defeated Scotland 65-56 in another netball match, with Gloria Ayaa showcasing her talent.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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