Day five, game five. We’re now at the halfway mark through the Netball World Cup and next up for the Vitality Roses is Fiji. Tune in tonight at 7pm (UK time) on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and Sky Sports Arena.
Keep up with all the build here on our live blog as we look ahead to the game with the Pearls. We’ll also keep you updated on the action during the game and bring you post-match reaction.
If you want to see how some of the Netball Super League (NSL) players are getting on during the tournament, head over to the NSL website for daily updates.
Watch all of today’s games live on the BBC iPlayer and on Sky Sports Action and Arena.
21:35
Here’s a round-up of all the results from today. We’ll be back bright and early on Thursday morning for our final pool game against the Commonwealth Games champions’ Australia.
Day five results
- Barbados 55-50 Singapore
- Australia 70-46 Malawi
- Tonga 55-47 Scotland
- Zimbabwe 71-36 Sri Lanka
- Fiji 28-89 England
21:20
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Head Coach Jess Thirlby feels the team are in a great position going into the Australia game on Thursday.
“I think we’re in a good place. We’re not getting carried away. We just need to quietly go about our business. There’s a nice quiet confidence in the group and I think tonight’s a good step in the right direction, irrelevant of who the opposition are, we’ve stayed very true to our Roses way. I think we’re in a really healthy place, both away from the court and on it.”
21:05
Player of the Match Eleanor Cardwell with the long feed before showing some silky feet in the circle.
The England shooter scored an incredible 40/41 this evening!
Slick 😮@EnglandNetball have started brightly against Fiji in the final game of today 💪#NWC2023 | #PutYourHandsUp pic.twitter.com/K8El8z4Iz9
— World Netball (@WorldNetball_) August 1, 2023
20:55
We maintain our perfect record at the Netball World Cup.
Five games, five wins ✅
The Vitality Roses confirm a spot in the semi-finals 🙌#NWC2023 | @NetballWorldCup pic.twitter.com/bd6gLQ3cC8
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) August 1, 2023
20:35
Housby has a lapse of concentration under the post but immediately makes an amend with a superb intercept to stop Fiji from starting an attack. Meanwhile, at the other end, Malcolm makes a brilliant steal to send England back on the attack as they hit 20 for the quarter. An 89-28 win for the Vitality Roses that seals their spot in the semi-finals.
Jade Clarke searches for Nat Metcalf – Credit: Michael Bradley
20:30
Housby and Tchine are building their connection in this quarter, working well and rotating in and out of the circle. Laura Malcolm, back at wing defence produces another brilliant ball down the line to find Pitman who sets up Tchine under the post.
Fiji 25-85 England
20:25
Geva Mentor announces her arrival back on court with a quick rebound to gift England an immediate turnover in the fourth quarter. Olivia Tchine is on goal shooter and takes advantage of Bolakoro’s movement to find space in the circle and take feeds from her club teammate Pitman.
Fiji 24-75 England
20:15
Fadoju denies a hopeful long feed into the circle with a great leap. Cardwell almost puts England up to 70 at the end of the third quarter but her shot from just inside the circle comes just after the buzzer.
Fiji 23-69 England
The Vitality Roses’ bench smiling on – Credit: Michael Bradley
20:10
Adi Bolakoro makes Fiji’s first intercept of the game with a brilliant long arm in the circle to deny a feed from the side of the circle. The Pearls follow this up with a steal just inside their defensive third as they enjoy their best spell of the game. Metcalf shows great acceleration to pick up a loose ball rolling off the side – she’s rewarded for her hard work soon after with a penalty shot that follows under the post.
Fiji 20-63 England
20:05
Head Coach Jess Thirlby makes three changes at the break. Fran Williams comes in at goal keeper, Jade Clarke comes on at centre and Metcalf returns at goal attack. Layla Guscoth picks up her first intercept and looks to dance away bringing a rye smile from Assistant Coach Sonia Mkoloma on the bench. Just before this, Pitman played a superb driven ball through the middle of the court to Cardwell under the post.
Fiji 18-57 England
19:45
Cardwell shows great improvisation using her signature claw movement to keep the ball in off the back line before playing an amazing no-look pass back to Guscoth in the middle of the court. And she’s at it again! Allison with another great intercept and she reacts quickly to the high ball across the middle.
Fiji 15-50 England
Chelsea Pitman makes her 50th appearance for the Vitality Roses – Credit: Michael Bradley
19:40
Funmi Fadoju comes on at goal keeper for Mentor as Malcolm and Allison swap bibs in the middle. Fadoju gets involved straight away making a low pick-up in the circle. Allison made four intercepts yesterday and already has two in the first 25 minutes as she flies through the middle for the catch.
Fiji 12-42 England
19:35
Chelsea Pitman comes on for the Vitality Roses in place of Metcalf for her 50th cap. Allison, starting at centre for the third game in a row has been really effective in attack in these first 20 minutes, producing 14 goal assists, driving quickly to circle edge to link up with the shooting circle.
Fiji 11-33 England
19:25
Laura Malcolm flies through the middle of the court to make an intercept and is unlucky not to keep hold of the ball as she runs off the side. Guscoth is doing a great job putting Lutua-Rusivakula under pressure as she goes for a couple of high balls but is unable to keep them in play. England record their highest quarter score of the tournament.
Fiji 8-26 England
Helen Housby under the post for the Vitality Roses vs. Fiji – Credit: Michael Bradley
19:20
Laura Malcolm stretches the Fiji defence with a superb long ball from the middle third into Housby in the corner who immediately finds Cardwell under the post. At the other end, Geva Mentor, who has the most rebounds for the Vitality Roses in this tournament, picks up another following Maliana Rusivakula’s attempt. England capitalising on some dropped balls from Fiji, transitioning quickly into attack.
Fiji 6-18 England
19:15
England’s defence pressing high and Imogen Allison picks up from where she left off yesterday making a great intercept on the transverse line, palming the ball into Layla Guscoth who finds co-captain Nat Metcalf who plays a brilliant ball into Helen Housby. A few moments later, Housby shows great balance and core-strength to keep in a high ball on the back line before playing a one-two for the shot.
Fiji 4-9 England
19:10
Fiji get us underway!
19:05
We’re gearing up! Five minutes to go.
Out on court and warming up 🔥
👀 Where are you watching from this evening?#NWC2023 | @NetballWorldCup pic.twitter.com/hsWclCdV80
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) August 1, 2023
18:50
And here’s how the Pearls line up.
GK – Kelera Nawai-Caucau
GD – Adi Bolakoro
WD – Ana Moi
C – Ana Nauqe
WA – Jimaima Kete
GA – Maria Lutua-Rusvakula
GS – Malania Rusivakula
Substitutes: Elina Drikibau, Josephine Nailumu, Lydia Panapasa, Malania Rauluni Unaisi, Kalesi Tawake
18:30
Here’s our starting seven for our fifth game of the Netball World Cup. Jess Thirlby provides some insight on the team selection and talks about our latest initiative, pledging sports bras for the Vitality Roses’ first clubs.
🔢 Volume of goals
✔️ NETBALLHer x @Nike #BrasForHer initiative
🇫🇯 Facing Fiji
Hear from @JessThirlby before the game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5Zv2eoyHqX
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) August 1, 2023
18:15
Did you know that we have a podcast? We are on our second series and on our most recent episode, we caught up with Eleanor Cardwell and Helen Housby. Take a listen below.
18:00
Just one hour to go before first centre pass. Who would you want to see in your starting seven? Take a look at BBC Sport’s starting seven selector.
Credit: Michael Bradley
17:30
In the latest episode of Sky Sports’ Off the Court, hear from Head Coach Jess Thirlby and our new Support Coach Jo Harten as they discuss their new working dynamic and how they feel the tournament has gone so far. You may also hear a bit a sing-along!
17:15
Imogen Allison received Player of the Match yesterday. She has started every game so far in this tournament and has spent the most time on court for the Vitality Roses playing 179 minutes.
Imogen Allison with her Player of the Match medal – Credit: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images/Netball World Cup 2023
16:35
Full-time in the latest game in the CTICC. The Tonga Tala claim victory over Scottish Thistles in Pool F – their third win of the competition.
16:00
Tale of the tape.
Set for our fifth @NetballWorldCup meeting 📈#NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/5ZScjjYyPO
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) August 1, 2023
15:45
Watching England with a Vitality Roses legend.
These lucky fans watched England’s first game against Barbados with Rachel Dunn in a bar in Birmingham. Make sure to tag England Netball on socials if you’re watching the Roses from a watch party this evening.
In case you missed it, we have partnered with We Love Sport who have set family friendly Pub Hubs across the country to show England’s World Cup games.
15:30
Earlier today, Australia and Malawi played out an entertaining game which saw the Commonwealth Games gold medallists come out with a 70-46 win. Live on Sky Sports Arena and BBC iPlayer right now you can see Scotland take on Tonga in the other game in our pool.
15:00
The countdown is on to England’s fifth game of the Netball World Cup.
Full steam ahead 🚂
Straight into another @NetballWorldCup game day with Fiji our opponents 🇫🇯🆚🏴
🖥️ Tune in on @bbcthree and @SkySports Arena at 7pm (UK time)!
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) August 1, 2023
Keep up to date with what’s happening inside the England camp by following us on our socials @EnglandNetball.
