Table of Contents
Emma Thurston
Interviews, commentary & analysis
England remain unbeaten in Group B and a 56-35 win over Uganda secures entry into Saturday’s semi-finals; a Thursday evening meeting with New Zealand was to decide whether they finished first or second in the group; England is the defending champion of the Commonwealth Games
Last updated: 2/8/22 7:52 PM
England have booked their place in the semifinals of the netball competition at the Commonwealth Games after beating Uganda 56-35 on Tuesday.
Jess Thirlby’s team will either finish first or second in Pool B and a clash with world champions New Zealand on Thursday night should decide that as long as the Silver Ferns beat Trinidad & Tobago later on Tuesday.
From the outset, England’s defensive pressures at all pitches helped limit Uganda’s options, and in attack England worked quickly and smartly.
The home team struggled to take a 25:15 lead until half-time. A strong third quarter left the game unattainable for Uganda and allowed England to withstand She Cranes’ tenacity in the last quarter.
England’s encounter with New Zealand has a first middle pass at 9pm on Thursday night
Team England – Commonwealth Games fixtures and results
Friday | England 74-22 Trinidad & Tobago |
---|---|
Saturday | England 66-41 Malawi |
Monday | England 71-27 Northern Ireland |
Tuesday | England 56-35 Uganda |
Thursday | England versus New Zealand |
Saturday, August 6th | semifinals |
Sunday, August 7th | final |
With Uganda’s fast track to goal in the form of Proscovia Peace, England knew they had to force mistakes further up the pitch to defeat the sixth-placed team in the world.
Thirlby chose Geva Mentor’s experience as a goalkeeper to mark the peace head-on, and in these, her sixth Commonwealth games, Mentor knew exactly what to do.
England’s midfielders also had a firm grip on every ball from the first minute and Thirlby’s team fought hard as a collective from end to end.
Her determination forced a few missed feeds from Stella Oyella and Jesca Achan, clinically punishing England.
Captain Nat Metcalf and Jade Clarke found Helen Housby and Eleanor Cardwell quickly and England’s shooters just missed a shot in the opening 15 minutes.
England vs. Uganda – From Seven
England | Uganda |
---|---|
GS: Eleanor Cardwell | GS: Proscovia Peace (C) |
GA: Helen Housby | GA: Irene Eyaru |
WA: Nat Metcalf | WA: Stella Oyella |
C: Jade Clarke | C: Jesca Achan |
WD: Stacey Francis-Bayman | WD: Sandra Nambirige |
DG: Layla Guscoth | DG: Joan Nampungu |
GK: Geva mentor | GK: Shaffie Nalvanya |
Leading 13-7, England maintained their line-up for the second quarter, as did Uganda.
A couple of attacking errors from England gave Uganda an opportunity to score the quick goals they were looking for and put them back in the three-goal competition.
However, pressure from Layla Guscoth and Stacey Francis-Bayman resulted in a crucial turnover that allowed England to equalize the quarter. The mentor added his work shortly thereafter to further regulate the procedure.
A tangle broke out between Peace and Guscoth six minutes before the break; The Ugandan captain had an unfortunate landing and, after trying to continue, had to leave the pitch.
Frieden was succeeded by Mary Cholhok and Uganda’s path into the circle became shaky by the half-time break.
England vs Uganda Quarter by Quarter Results
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | FT | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | 13 | 12 | fifteen | 16 | 56 |
Uganda | 7 | 8th | 9 | 11 | 35 |
England’s 10-goal half-time lead meant Uganda changed tactics for the third quarter, putting Shadiah Nassanga in the circle with Irene Eyaru.
The shorter shooters presented a different challenge for Mentor and Guscoth, with Cardwell and Jo Harten being used in England’s attacking end.
England needed a few minutes to calm down before raising the stakes and using the 15-minute set to finally put the game out of Uganda’s reach.
Uganda started the last quarter strongly and went goal for goal with England for much of it, but their discipline ultimately failed them while the hosts remained composed and collected.
Uganda now meet Northern Ireland and then Malawi in the final Group B games, while England prepare to face New Zealand on Thursday night ahead of the weekend’s semi-finals.