Chelsea Pitman high fives her Vitality Roses teammates - Credit: @mbphotonz
It’s day four of the Netball World Cup and we’re now into the second stage of the competition. The Vitality Roses take on Tonga live on the BBC and Sky Sports at 5pm (UK time).
Stay here throughout the afternoon and evening for build-up, updates during England’s game and reaction from the Roses.
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 Sky Sports Action and Arena.
21:00
Next up for the Vitality Roses, it’s Fiji.
Take a look at We Love Sport who will be showing the game at a number of family friendly Pub Hubs across England.
📅 Tuesday night plans? Vitality Roses vs Fiji, 7pm
👀 Venue? Plan your watch party at your local!
18 @welovesportuk venues nationwide will be showing this fixture, plus more throughout the week, with discounts available for netball fans via the We Love Sport app 📲⬇️
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 31, 2023
20:30
Incredible balance from Olivia Tchine!
Oooof, Liv Tchine 🔥🔥🔥
Smooth as ya like.#BBCNetball pic.twitter.com/oMQTml2LNZ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2023
19:40
We’ve got Imo in the middle!
Imogen Allison puts in another brilliant performance to win Player of the Match.
Impact from Allison 🙌@imoallison was pivotal in the middle today for the Vitality Roses with 21 feeds, four gains and four interceptions ✅
🏅 Congratulations Imo on your first international Player of the Match award! pic.twitter.com/CLHeRKBkau
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 31, 2023
19:20
A Vitality Roses team goal to cap off a strong showing against the Tonga Tala
End of play 🎬@EnglandNetball win 72-48 on Day 4, overcoming Tonga 💥#NWC2023 | #PutYourHandsUp pic.twitter.com/xzposUqr59
— World Netball (@WorldNetball_) July 31, 2023
19:10
Thoughts from Eleanor Cardwell on the challenge posed by Tonga today
“I think every game has had its difficulties. We’ve played against them before the competition so we kind of knew what we were coming up against, but there’s definitely things that we need to keep working on. We need to keep working on our consistency and that’s something that we keep saying after every game and we’re slowly getting there and we’re building.”
18:55
Triumph over Tonga.
A winning start to Preliminaries Stage Two ✅#NWC2023 | @NetballWorldCup pic.twitter.com/7sx0C1NVID
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 31, 2023
18:35
Cardwell returns to court to combine with Tchine in the cirlce. Veve continues to be Tonga’s main threat in the middle of the court as picks up her sixth intercept of the game. England show great speed again in the final few minutes to extend their lead to 18-10 for the quarter and surpass the 70 mark. A winning start to the second phase against a testing Tonga team.
Tonga 46-72 England
18:30
The Tchine and Housby partnership has been growing and growing in this tournament and is evident as Tchine picks up a high long ball from Housby. As we close in on the final five minutes, both teams are being serenaded by some beautiful sounds from the stands, complimenting the brilliant netball on court.
Tonga 43-67 England
18:25
Geva Mentor comes on at GK to join Guscoth at the back and immediately, the co-captain makes a great intercept in the circle. Allison, back on at WD produces another fantastic intercept meanwhile, Tchine, who has looked very composed since coming on, shows great balance to prop up a shot on one foot and maintain her 100% record.
Tonga 37-62 England
Layla Guscoth driving through the court – Credit: Michael Bradley.
18:15
Tonga have stepped up their defensive pressure in this third quarter; Marie Hansen and Veve have really disrupted England’s flow. And in the shooting circle they have been clinical – Palavi at 90% shooting accuracy. England take the third quarter 16-14.
Tonga 36-54 England
18:10
Over halfway through this third quarter and both sides going goal-for-goal. Hulita Veve is working hard for her side in the middle, linking the play with the Tonga attacking trio. A further two changes from the England bench sees Chelsea Pitman and Olivia Tchine come on for Metcalf and Cardwell. Fadoju makes a great tip as Tonga swing the ball around the circle but England are unable to capitalise as Lose Fainga’anuku takes the resulting feed from Housby away from Tchine.
Tonga 31-48 England
18:05
Head Coach Jess Thirlby has made two changes at the break; Layla Guscoth has come at GD as Funmi Fadoju moves back to GK and Jade Clarke comes on for Allison in the middle. Tonga send the ball down to the backline and as Palavi’s stretched effort bounces of the rim of the net, Guscoth reaches over Fadoju to take the rebound.
Tonga 26-45 England
17:45
Gerrard makes way for Kelea Iongi for Tonga. Housby makes a great fake run before coming back into the middle to take the long ball from Allison, after Cardwell sinks a long bomb from just inside the circle. Tonga finish the quarter strong with Palavi sinking four goals in the last minute and a half to England’s one but overall, it’s been a strong second quarter from the Vitality Roses.
Tonga 22-38 England
Nat Metcalf takes flight to receive the ball – Credit: Michael Bradley
17:40
Cardwell shows some flair with a cheeky no-look pass into her shooting partner. Speaking of no-look passes, Cat Tuivaiti enters the court for Tonga and is likely to be throwing some of these out on court. Allison breaks through into the middle third to make a superb intercept in the middle of the court. England have been clinical in the last five minutes scoring six to Tonga’s two.
Tonga 17-32 England
17:35
Funmi Fadoju makes a trademark leap on the sideline in the defensive third to stop the ball down the line – she follows this up just a few seconds later with another intercept on the edge of the middle third. Housby and Cardwell have swapped bibs as they give the Tongan defence something to think about in this quarter.
Tonga 15-26 England
17:25
Former Australian Diamond, now part of the Tonga Tala, Mo’onia Gerrard gets the intercept on the edge of the circle but Imogen Allison helps regain possession through good defensive work. The world number seven ranked side are showing strength in attack with Uneeq Palavi putting up 10 goals from 11 attempts.
Tonga 13-19 England
Eleanor Cardwell with the claw – Credit: Michael Bradley
17:20
A rare toss-up as both sides break on the centre pass. Nat Metcalf sends a long ball through to Cardwell who gets her hand on it but is forced to run off to the sideline and swipe the ball back in play, showing great commitment as she takes out the drinks container; Helen Housby finishes off the move to reward the attacker’s hard work. England are working the ball really well in the attacking third.
Tonga 9-14 England
17:15
The Vitality Roses have made a fast start. Eleanor Cardwell has had a lot of service already under the post, putting up six of England’s seven goals. Fran Williams, starting at goal keeper for the first time in this tournament, showed great awareness to read a long ball into the circle and pick up the first intercept of the game.
Tonga 4-7 England
17:10
Right, here we go! Imogen Allison gets us underway!
17:00
10 minutes to go! Tune in to BBC Two and Sky Sports Arena for the build-up to our first Pool F game.
16:55
For the first time in this World Cup our Vitality Roses will be in their alternative black dress as Tonga will be in red.
16:40
Take a look at the Tonga Tala
GK – Mo’onia Gerrard
GD – Kelea Iongi
WD – Valu Toutaiolepo
C – Hulita Veve
WA – Salote Taufa
GA – Marie Hansen
GS – Uneeq Palavi
Substitutes: Luana Aukafolau, Lose Fainga’anuku, Lucia Fauonuku, Beyonce Palavi, Cat Tuivaiti
16:30
Here’s the starting seven that will take on Tonga along with some thoughts from Head Coach Jess Thirlby.
Hear from Vitality Roses Head Coach @JessThirlby ahead of the game against Tonga 💬#NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/8ueeKTTcWr
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 31, 2023
16:15
Hear how Olivia Tchine, Funmi Fadoju, Fran Williams and Geva Mentor were all feeling after getting through stage one yesterday on Sky Sports’ latest episode of ‘Off the Court’
15:45
Earlier today, the other four teams in England’s new pool played out their first games of the second stage.
- Australia 76-37 Scotland
- Fiji 48-62 Malawi
15:30
Anyone else see this yesterday? We think the England bench enjoyed this!
@englandnetball 🎶 “All my ladies, if you feel me. Come on, do it, do it, whip your hair (whip your hair)” 🎶 #NetballTikTok #Netball #NWC2023 #NetballWorldCup #VitalityRoses ♬ original sound – ✨🇬🇹2000s&2010s throwbacks✨
15:15
Just one shot missed from three games so far from Helen Housby.
14:15
Did you know that this evening’s game against Tonga will be our first at a Netball World Cup?
A first-ever @NetballWorldCup meeting between the Vitality Roses and Tonga awaits 🇹🇴🆚🏴#NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/B1AKmpPkxJ
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 31, 2023
14:00
If you’ve been inspired by what you’ve seen so far at the Netball World Cup don’t forget we have live netball coming to Manchester and Nottingham this December!
Tickets for our Vitality Netball International Series with South Africa are now on general sale.
🚦 Green light!
🌹 Vitality Roses vs @Netball_SA tickets are now on sale
📆 5 December at Manchester’s @AOArena
➡️ 9 & 10 December at @nottinghamarena
Early bird offer: £5 off all adult tickets 🙌
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 31, 2023
13:30
After three wins from three in Preliminary Stage One, England have now formed a group with five other teams and will play three more matches to try and book their place in the semi-finals.
Here’s a recap of the Vitality Roses results so far and their fixtures to come.
Friday 28 July
England 90-29 Barbados
Saturday 29 July
England 62-39 Malawi
Sunday 30 July
England 62-37 Scotland
Monday 31 July
Tonga vs. England (5pm BST on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and Sky Sports Arena)
Tuesday 1 August
Fiji vs. England (7pm BST on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and Sky Sports Arena)
Thursday 3 August
Australia vs. England (8am BST on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and Sky Sports Arena)
Thumbs up from Eleanor Cardwell
Keep up to date with what’s happening inside the England camp by following us on our socials @EnglandNetball.
