England Netball | Vitality Roses Netball World Cup Live Blog – Day Two

Vitality Roses stand for national anthem ahead of game one with Barbados. Credit: mbphotonz

Day two at the Netball World Cup and next up for the Vitality Roses are the Malawi Queens, live on Sky Sports Arena and Mix at 5pm UK time.

Here you can find all the build-up to today’s game, updates from the match and reaction. We will also keep across what’s happening in the other game between Scotland and Barbados.

Keep up with all the action across the tournament using our handy match schedule and wall planner.

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.

20:55

Before we sign off for the evening, here’s a recap of today’s results.

We’ll see you tomorrow for our final Preliminary Stage One game against Scotland. Watch live on Sky Sports Arena, Mix and YouTube at 3pm (UK time).

Day Two

Zimbabwe 48-52 Fiji
New Zealand 54-44 Uganda
Australia 85-38 Tonga
Jamaica 75-40 Wales
South Africa 87-32 Sri Lanka
Scotland 53-44 Barbados
England 62-39 Malawi
Trinidad & Tobago 49-36 Singapore

20:45

Imogen Allison firing the feed through the centre of the court earlier this evening.

Love. That. Feed. 👍@ECardwell11 appreciating the feed from @imoallison 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#NWC2023 | @EnglandNetball pic.twitter.com/rGZXYKIHQa

— World Netball (@WorldNetball_) July 29, 2023

20:30

This is what we like to hear, Catherine! If you’ve been inspired by the Vitality Roses, check out our Session Finder.

Visit our Session Finder

The usual thing happened today. I watched some of the @EnglandNetball match, immediately signed up for #BackToNetball @NE_Netball it’s the only sport I know the rules of, so I usually end up going back! pic.twitter.com/YRlOhubBlB

— #HellomynameisCatherine 💙 (@boogieshoe) July 29, 2023

20:15

More reaction from Jess Thirlby who was pleased the team managed to recover after a nervy first quarter.

“I was really impressed with the injection of Layla [Guscoth] and Funmi [Fadoju] coming back onto court after leaving. I thought she [Funmi] was excellent, more herself and more involved in the game. Helen [Housby] in particular, I thought, did a really fantastic job moving through the game and getting on the front and it really opened up well.”

Funmi Fadoju returns to the action – Credit: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Netball World Cup 2023

19:20

Two games with 100% shooting accuracy for Helen Housby!

🎯 100% shooting accuracy

🔁 Brilliant movement in the circle

✅ Strong defensive pressure up and down the court@Helenhousby1 is your Player of the Match after a fantastic performance against Malawi 👏#NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/nI6OEYyB4I

— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 29, 2023

19:10

On court captain Nat Metcalf gave a few words after the game.

“We really grew into that game. Malawi are an incredible side and they’re really happy in possession so it’s hard to win ball from them.

“I think as we grew into the game we started to do that and then taking care of it.”

19:00

Two down. One to go in Preliminary Stage One.

Two from two for the Vitality Roses ✅#NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/cyuHQ3fDss

— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 29, 2023

18:35

Geva Mentor hoists Funmi Fadoju underneath the post and eventually the pair pick off the ball. The Malawi Queens have recovered from the third quarter but despite getting some late goals, England hold on to claim their 100th World Cup win.

England 62-39 Malawi

18:30

Chelsea Pitman has shown great flair and creativity since coming on and is instilling confidence into Tchine in the circle. England looking more comfortable and patient in their build up whilst Malawi are having to be a lot more cautious with their defending after being pulled up on a number of occasions by the umpires.

England 58-34 Malawi

Malcolm and Allison together in the middle

18:25

Jade Clarke comes on her first minutes of the game, replacing Imogen Allison at centre whilst Helen Housby and Eleanor Cardwell take well-deserved rests in place of Nat Metcalf and Olivia Tchine. Vinkhumbo returns at goal keeper and flies out to make a huge intercept before Thandie Galleta does the same just a few moments later as Malawi find some energy in the final quarter. Tchine showing no nerves since being thrown into the circle.

England 52-32 Malawi

18:20

A couple of high balls find Mvula much to the delight of the Malawi fans in the CTICC but it hasn’t happened enough for the visitors. With no Towera Vinkumbo or Loreen Ngwira in their defence, Helen Housby and Eleanor Cardwell have taken advantage and in the last five minutes clock up eight goals between them to extend England’s advantage and cap off a disciplined third quarter.

England 48-29 Malawi

18:10

Cheers from the crowd as Lwazi returns to court alongside Mvula and both make immediate impacts connecting well. Funmi Fadoju has also returned to the game, coming in at goal defence and forming a defensive unit with Mentor and Guscoth. Malawi goal keeper Loreen Ngwira makes way with five minutes to go as she was edging closer to being dismissed, racking up 20 penalties across the three quarters.

England 41-26 Malawi

18:05

Malawi make a couple of changes at the break with Joyce Mvula making way for Sindi Simtowe and just a minute into the second half were forced to make another substitution as Lwazi went down by the sideline. For the Vitality Roses, Chelsea Pitman has come for on-court captain Nat Metcalf and gets straight into the action, linking up well with Cardwell who is beginning to take control in the circle.

England 37-21 Malawi

Layla Guscoth taking flight

17:45

Nat Metcalf charges back to receive the early feed from Guscoth but is clattered to the ground by Jane Dambo. Both get up unscathed. Off the court, Funmi Fadoju has been up and walking around in the warm-up area. Since moving into the centre, Allison has been pestering Malawi’s Takondwa Lwazi, playing her 100th game for her country, and has stopped her from getting the ball early, slowing the Malawi attack. At the break, England lead by nine.

England 29-20 Malawi

17:40

Geva Mentor and Layla Guscoth have helped to solidify the England defence and are frustrating their opponents as they are forced to play back from the circle edge. Moving forward, England are starting to find their rhythm, finding their way to goal with speed as Housby and Cardwell unflustered under the post.

England 23-17 Malawi

Eleanor Cardwell putting up the goals for the Vitality Roses

17:35

Geva Mentor comes in at goal keeper as Funmi Fadoju moves up to goal defence meanwhile, in the middle of the court, Laura Malcolm and Imogen Allison swap bibs. The changes help to make an immediate impact as England move seven goals ahead, capitalising on a couple of unforced errors from their opponents. Just a few minutes after coming on, Funmi Fadoju makes way for Layla Guscoth as she receives some medical attention.

England 19-12 Malawi

17:25

Imogen Allison reacts quickly in the defensive third to make an intercept and send England back on the offensive. Both sides have been sloppy with the ball in the last five minutes but just before the end of the first quarter, England take a two-goal lead thanks to Eleanor Cardwell who has scored eight from eight.

England 12-10 Malawi

17:20

Fran Williams gets a tip on the circle edge but Malawi retain the ball to complete their attack. England try to press but the Malawi Queens are showing great composure and patience in their attacking play. They take a narrow lead with five minutes left in the quarter.

England 7-8 Malawi

17:15

Loose passes from both teams in the first minute. Malawi earn an early turnover but they are unable to capitalise as they are penalised for a held ball. Helen Housby gets the Vitality Roses on the scoreboard after a couple of minutes as England begin to settle. Both teams now going goal for goal.

England 3-3 Malawi

17:10

Laura Malcolm has the ball in hand and gets us underway!

17:05

Just five minutes to go until the first centre pass. We hope you’ve got your Roses attire on!

Get your own Nike fanwear

Ready to support @EnglandNetball later #roses #NetballWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/YHyyU0KPOV

— Becky Kay (@WellbeingEduca1) July 29, 2023

16:50

Speaking ahead of the game, Jess Thirlby is looking forward to the test Malawi will pose.

“Malawi give us some really great challenges in terms of their range, their speed, I think they’ve got absolute firepower in the in their attacking circle with both Joyce and Kumwenda who are outstanding athletes in their own right.

“Their centre is pretty key fir Malawi, loves to handle the ball, always very quick so I think she’s definitely one to watch”

16:35

Scotland take the win in the other Pool B game against Barbados. Next up, England at 5:10pm (UK time)

16:25

And here’s how the Malawi Queens line up.

GK – Loreen Ngwira

GD – Towera Vinkhumbo

WD – Grace Mwafulirwa

C – Takondwa Lwazi

WA – Thandie Galleta

GA – Jane Chimaliro

GS – Joyce Mvula

Substitutes: Shabel Bengo, Martha Dambo, Mwai Kumwenda, Madalitso Mkandawire, Sindi Simtowe

16:20

Head Coach Jess Thirlby makes three changes to the side that started yesterday’s game against Barbados.

Funmi Fadoju, Fran Williams and Laura Malcolm all come into the starting seven.

📰 Team news is in for game two…

It's first starts at a @NetballWorldCup for @fwills11, @FadojuFunmi and @ljmalcolm1 ☝️

📲 Follow all the live action on @SkySports Arena and Mix! pic.twitter.com/OnIwtl63BB

— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 29, 2023

16:00

Here’s how we match up against the Malawi Queens.

⏪ The last @NetballWorldCup meeting between the two sides came in Singapore in 2011 where the Vitality Roses won 65-33.

Take a look at how the teams match up 👀#NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/w6OSVZpKDR

— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 29, 2023

15:50

In the other game in Pool B, it’s all square at the half time interval between Scotland and Barbados.

15:30

Liv Tchine’s on fire, your defence is terrified!

36 goals for Liv Tchine on her Netball World Cup debut yesterday including this impressive buzzer beater.

What a way to end!@EnglandNetball make it a 90-29 win over Barbados in the final seconds 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/Kqx56pHnZs

— World Netball (@WorldNetball_) July 28, 2023

15:00

The other game in Pool B is about to get underway. Watch Scotland vs. Barbados live on Sky Sports Mix.

Scotland at the Netball World Cup – Credit: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images/Netball World Cup 2023

14:30

Is there anything better than Saturday night netball?

We hope you've kept your Saturday evening free 💁‍♀️

The Vitality Roses face @Netball_Malawi in their second game of the @NetballWorldCup at 5pm (UK time) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇲🇼

🚨 Catch all the action LIVE on @SkySports Mix and Arena!

— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 29, 2023

14:00

Did you know that England’s win yesterday was their biggest victory over the Bajan Gems at a Netball World Cup?

For every goal the Vitality Roses score, a free sports bra will be pledged to teenage players at the Roses’ first clubs.

Learn how to get your perfect sports bra fit through NETBALLHer

A massive 90 goals to start off the #BrasForHer initiative, where for every Vitality Roses goal scored, NETBALLHer and @Nike are pledging a free sports bra to teenage players at the Roses' first clubs 🌹

To learn how to get your perfect sports bra fit, visit NETBALLHer ⤵️

— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) July 28, 2023

13:45

Funmi Fadoju won Player of the Match yesterday on her World Cup debut. She came on in the second half alongside Geva Mentor – a childhood dream come true.

“Every day I’m just like, I can’t believe I’m playing with Geva Mentor! She’s so supportive and such a strong person to have back there. I just love her leadership on court. She’s always high-fiving us and cheering us on. I just love playing with her.”