Enjoy that? What a cracker. “I cannot put into words what just happened,” says Maria Folau, who was superb for New Zealand. Thanks for your company, emails and tweets. Do join my esteemed colleague Niall McVeigh on Sunday for the final. But, for now, get stuck into this report of events in Liverpool.
Tracey Neville talks. “New Zealand came out really strong in that first quarter, we didn’t learn our lessons quick enough and we always seemed to be chasing the game,” she says. “We gave it our all but we just didn’t have the legs that we needed. Fair dos, it was a class performance from New Zealand and that is probably the only game this tournament where we have made basic errors. They did a great job on us and we left it too late.” England will duel with South Africa on Sunday for the bronze medal. “We will go again.”
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“Gutted,” says the England captain, Serena Guthrie. “There are no guarantees in this game, it doesn’t matter if you have 50 or 150 caps, you have to earn it and we didn’t do enough, ultimately. We knew they [New Zealand] were going to come out hard – we would have had liked to make a better start – but we came back into it well. Unfortunately, today New Zealand were the better team.” She continues: “I just want to thank everyone who has been on this journey and there is still a medal up for grabs. We still have the opportunity to be up on that podium – it is not the medal we wanted – but there is still a medal up for grabs.”
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Full-time: New Zealand 47-45 England
The Silver Ferns will play Australia in Sunday’s final! Heartbreak for hosts England, despite a lung-busting, gut-busting performance. The goal shooter Maria Folau and goal attack Ameliaranne Ekenasio were ultimately the difference, an irresistible combination at times. But England more than did themselves proud. A brilliant advert for the sport, and yet more end-to-end drama in Liverpool.
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Q4 14 min: NZ lead 46-44! And they are eating down the clock.
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Q4 13 min: New Zealand lead 45-43! One hundred-odd seconds to play!
Q4 12 min: And then Helen Housby goes one better! England trail by just two goals now. They can’t, can they? Tracey Neville’s side are giving it helluva go ...
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Q4 12 min: Jo Harten strikes for England! NZ lead 44-41!
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Q4 11 min: New Zealand take the sting out of the England fightback, with Folau doing what she does best, looping in another cool finish. NZ reinstate a three-goal lead. For evidence of how unrelenting NZ have been, Ameliaranne Ekenasio just had to put a trainer back on, after it slipped off in the heat of battle. Can the Silver Ferns see it out, or will England come up with the goods late on?
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Q4 10 min: The England comeback. Is. On. New Zealand lead 42-40!
Q4 8 min: New Zealand lead 42-38. A timely interception and Shannon Saunders does superbly to help the ball into the path of Folau. And, it goes without saying, but the Ferns’ goal shooter buried the chance that followed.
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Q4 7 min: New Zealand edge into a 41-37 lead after Guthrie is cautioned for persistent obstruction. Things are beginning to slip away from England.
Q4 6 min: New Zealand lead England 40-37.
Q4 5 mins: Ten minutes of play left in this relentless final. “Amazing that NZ shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio has NOT missed,” says Erin Delahunty. “She’s one of two mothers on the court for the Ferns. The other is Casey Kopua.”
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Q4 4 min: New Zealand lead 38-36! Guthrie is penalised for holding on to the ball for too long, exceeding the three-second limit. But Harten nicks the ball back from New Zealand, pumping her chest in celebration and Housby does the rest, looping home another priceless riposte. England trail by just the two, now.
Q4 2 min: England trail 38-34! Harten has an off-moment and an unforgiving New Zealand side seize on a clumsy error. Folau with the merciless finish.
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Q4 1 min: England get off to a flyer, with Harten weighing in with another cool finish. Will New Zealand reach a sixth successive World Cup final, or can England navigate their way to a maiden appearance in the event’s showpiece?
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A quick reminder the winner will face Australia in Sunday’s final:
Quarter-time!
New Zealand lead England 36-33. Helen Housby nets in the final seconds to tee up a riveting fourth and final decisive quarter.
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Q3 13 mins: New Zealand lead 35-31! Guthrie, the England captain, appears to be struggling. She has given absolutely everything here. “Another England-New Zealand World Cup knockout might be settled by a tie-breaker if the match continues being this close,” emails Abhijato Sensarma. New Zealand have, however, made a few big strides in the last couple of minutes. Super over, anyone?
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Q3 12 mins: England trail 32-31! There is simply no let-up, no margin for error. Just as Housby senses blood, Ekenasio nudges New Zealand back in front. “It’s so loud inside M&S Arena the players are obviously struggling to hear the whistle,” says Erin Delahunty. Remember, a full report from Liverpool will follow.
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Q3 10 mins: Inseparable. Twenty-nine apiece. This is nerve-wracking netball in all its glory. Goal attack Ameliaranne Ekenasio finds a timely equaliser for New Zealand after England regained a one-goal lead. Who can sneak in front with five minutes left of this quarter? We are in for a barnstorming finish.
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Q3 7 mins: 27-27 it is! A sumptuous leveller by Folau. “Loving the updates Ben – no coverage in Cyprus!” tweets Kate Jones. “Let’s go, third quarter is ours!”
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Q3 6 mins: Harten dinks in another, moments after the substitute Shannon Saunders cancelled out her earlier effort. You could cut the tension with a knife.
Q3 5 mins: New Zealand find an equaliser! It’s 25-25 in Liverpool. The Silver Ferns have come flying out of the blocks, leading this quarter 4-1. But here come England on the counter ...
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Q3 4 min: Well, then. Folau is human after all, missing a simple chance with the net gaping. England patiently try to rebuild. They look to Harten and Housby, who inadvertently collide in attack. But New Zealand turnover and Ameliaranne Ekenasio coolly sinks a goal to close the gap. England lead 25-24.
Q3 2 min: England lead 25-23. Goal shooter Maria Folau has been a prolific force for the Silver Ferns. She, effortlessly, loops a couple of early shots into the net, but Tracey Neville’s side are quick to reply. A neck-and-neck start here.
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Q3 1 min: Laura Langman kickstarts the third quarter with the centre pass. Can they regain control of this one? England look thoroughly revved-up.
Half-time emails. “Go the Kiwis ... make up for the cricket,” says Jo Davies. As for Tor Turner, he has helluva tale to tell. “Not a big netball fan, but I did play at school in my youth, and I’m enjoying watching the Roses come back into this game with some serious pace and aggression,” Tor begins.
“Bit of a shock to see my old school netball teacher, Kathleen Edwards (but always known as Miss Edwards to us), sat in behind Tracy Neville in the bench area. By all accounts she’s a bit of a legend and did take our school netball team to nationals a number of times, so I shouldn’t really be surprised she’s still involved with the game. I do however have the honour of being the worst pupil she ever encountered in 30 years of teaching, in her own words, so fingers crossed she doesn’t remember me at all!”
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What will Tracey Neville’s half-time team-talk consist of? More of the same, essentially. They finished the second quarter with some real gusto. No need for the Sir Alex Ferguson hairdryer treatment that her brothers, Gary and Philip, will have been on the receiving end of at Manchester United during their career.
Half-time!
England lead 24-21! High-fives all round, as England not only rally back but superbly fight back from a six-goal deficit to turn an enthralling game on its head. New Zealand looked shellshocked at the tail-end of that quarter. England – at last – have managed to snuff out Folau, with Harten and Housby growing in influence, with Neville’s decision to switch their positions seemingly a masterstroke. Unbelievable character by England to bounce back.
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Q2 14 mins: New Zealand trail 22-21! A frenetic finish to this second quarter in Liverpool, as England take the lead for the first time in this topsy-turvy match-up. Now, then, how will New Zealand respond? Their initial riposte is to up the ante but Eboni Usoro-Brown does superbly to steal the ball back. A wonderful turnover, nabbing the ball away from Folau.
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Q2 14 mins: They’re level-pegging! 21-21!
Q2 14 mins: Harten turns up the volume. England trail by just a single goal! New Zealand are being penned in. “Yep, a Kiwi on holiday in Bali here and no way to watch the games,” emails Jo Davies. “Loving your blog!” Keep the emails coming.
Q2 12 mins: NZ 20-17 England. What can Tracey Neville’s side do to force their way back in? Harten and Housby – who have swapped positions, with the latter now in goal attack – eat away at the margin but England require more.
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Q2 10 mins: New Zealand have wrestled back control of this one, with Ekenasio and Folau threatening to run riot. They have managed to sap the life out of England, all of that early promise in this second quarter. Saying that, they have already hit back from one five-goal deficit here. Now it is time to go again.
Q2 8 mins: New Zealand lead 18-13. “Keep it up!” emails Catherine Doran. “I’m on a plane headed to the UK and I’m following along! Go Kiwis!”
Q2 6 mins: England trail 17-13! Coolness personified by Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who pokes New Zealand back in front. And then they go for the jugular, with Folau looping in another after England get sloppy in defence.
Q2 4 mins: Housby draws England level. 13-13!
Q2 3 mins: Harten sinks a couple of early replies, seconds after Housby hit the metalwork of the hoop. Harten attempts to gee up the home crowd, who duly respond by roaring the Roses on. But Folau gets New Zealand back on track in the only way she knows how, adding another goal for the Silver Ferns.
Q2 1 min: New Zealand restart things with the centre pass. Laura Langman begins proceedings as the Silver Ferns seek to finish where they left off.
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“Loving the blog (I played netball until I was 14),” emails Joe from Kent. “Keeping me updated from the beer garden. Fancy England to hit back before half-time but Maria Folau is causing lots of problems for our defence.”
Quarter-time!
New Zealand win the first battle of minds and bodies; they lead England 12-9 in Liverpool. Housby missed a golden opportunity on the brink of the interval, but Tracey Neville’s side managed to fight their way back from 5-0 down.
Q1 14 mins: New Zealand lead England 12-9.
Q1 13 mins: Geva Mentor is penalised for obstruction and Maria Folau sinks the rebound. England are struggling to make the most of the centre pass, with New Zealand quick to suffocate any whiff of pressure. Nevertheless, Harten weighs in with another to make life interesting as the first quarter draws to a close.
Q1 11 mins: New Zealand lead 9-7. England fail to make the most of wing defence Jade Clarke turning over in the final third. Housby continues to cause problems for the Silver Ferns, who otherwise remain fairly composed. Goal shooter Maria Folau sinks another for New Zealand, seizing on a Roses error.
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Q1 9 mins: Housby sinks another one, as England edge nearer to restoring parity. New Zealand are not having it all their own way now.
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Q1 8 mins: New Zealand lead England 6-5. Harten atones for her earlier misses, weighing in with another. “The umpire at England’s shooting end is Australian Michelle Pippard, who sent off a Ugandan player in one of the first matches of the tournament,” says Erin Delahunty, who is watching on in Liverpool. “She won’t mess around with cautions if she feels they are warranted.”
Q1 7 mins: Housby and Harten add a quick-fire double, and England appear to have shaken off a few early nerves. Housby is beginning to run the show.
Q1 5 mins: Jo Harten misses a couple of sitters but goal attack Helen Housby eventually gets England on the scoresheet. New Zealand, who are penalised for intimidation, gift Tracey Neville’s side another chance and Harten takes it this time. It is New Zealand that firmly remain in the box seat.
Q1 3 mins: New Zealand race into a 3-0 lead. Casey Kopua is bossing things in defence for the Silver Ferns. England are up against it early on.
Peeeeeeeeep!
New Zealand get things started.
Netball’s coming home? One by one, the players strut out from the tunnel to considerable fanfare. The thudding backdrop? We Will Rock You, of course. Here we go, then ...
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Team T-Nev! The atmosphere in Liverpool is building, with less than 10 minutes until the first centre pass as England and New Zealand renew their rivalry in an enthralling semi-final. There is a sea of red and white, a mini-wall of St George’s flags, and, oh, half a dozen Tracey Neville lookalikes donning blonde wigs.
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A quick Aussie perspective, courtesy of Erin Delahunty, who is in situ in Liverpool for the big one. “The reigning champions Australia have said they don’t care who play in the final. But one thing is for sure, they will be hoping this will be a bruising encounter, so whoever makes the final has some sore bodies.”
Tracey Neville speaks pre-match, and discusses deciding to step away from her role as Roses head coach to start a family. Going out as a World Cup champion would not be a bad way to bow out, would it? “I think my boss would be very upset if I walked away as early as Monday. I think I have a bit of time [before leaving], but it is time to take a break for my own personal well-being,” says the 42-year-old. “Unfortunately, I am the person in my relationship who has to make that sacrifice. I will always be a Rose with them.”
Team news!
England:
GS Jo Harten
GA Helen Housby
WA Chelsea Pitman
C Serena Guthrie
WD Jade Clarke
GD Eboni Usoro-Brown
GK Geva Mentor
Subs:
Rachel Dunn
Natalie Haythornthwaite
Natalie Panagarry
Francesca Williams
New Zealand:
GS Maria Folau
GA Ameliaranne Ekenasio
WA Gina Crampton
C Laura Langman
WD Katrina Rore
GD Casey Kopua
GK Jane Watson
Subs:
Karin Burger
Phoenix Karaka
Bailey Mes
Shannon Saunders
Te Paea Selby-Rickit
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There is no hiding the expectation that surrounds the Roses. Put simply, the Commonwealth champions will need to be at their best to prevent New Zealand from joining Australia in the final. South Africa took the Aussies almightily close, forcing the favourites to dig deep and Tracey Neville’s side will have to match that kind of lung-busting effort. And how about this for a heart-warming sporting detail: Kurtis Guthrie, the brother of the England captain, Serena, has been given the weekend off by League Two football club Stevenage to support his sister on Merseyside.
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The winner of this one will, of course, play Australia. The reigning champions rested a series of big names but still got the job done in Liverpool earlier. Courtney Bruce was crucial in defence as Australia eked into Sunday’s final:
Preamble
We could get used to this. England are an hour away from another World Cup final and, almost a week on from Jofra Archer’s heroics at Lord’s, Tracey Neville’s netball side are within touching distance of reaching their first final. New Zealand, who won this competition in 2003 and have lost out to Australia in the past three finals, stand in the way of an England team that are yet to taste defeat in this tournament, and there is no getting away from the reality that this is their toughest test yet. England won Commonwealth Games gold four years ago but making it past the final hurdle at a World Cup would represent new territory. Neville witnessed her side finish with a bang in the group stage and is determined to help England to the final in front of a sell-out, vuvuzela-wielding home crowd. “We have 10,000 people in the stadium and they are absolutely amazing,” said Neville, who will step down as head coach at the end of the tournament. “At first it was a bit intimidating – I wasn’t expecting them to come and make so much noise, but it’s come to be something of our eighth player.”
Centre pass: 3pm (BST)
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