By Abbie Thompson
Within the next week, the England Roses netball team will begin their 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign down under in an attempt to cause an upset to main rivals and home team, Australia.
Within the next week, the England Roses netball team will begin their 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign down under in an attempt to cause an upset to main rivals and home team, Australia. The team selected contains a mix of relatively new faces and veteran players. Ama Agbeze will captain the squad, in her third Commonwealth Games. Other players include Serena Guthrie, who particularly shone during the 2018 Quad Series, Jade Clarke and Natalie Haythornthwaite. It was no surprise either to hear that Jo Harten and Helen Housby would be returning to the shooting circle, on the Gold Coast.
In the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, England finished a disappointing fourth, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal to Jamaica - who beat them by a mere four points. However, the current England squad is arguably better and stronger than ever. In the 2018 Quad Series, England finished second to Australia, convincingly beating both New Zealand and South Africa. England have won a total of three bronze medals since netball was introduced into the Commonwealth Games in 1998.
England Roses fans will be glad to hear that England have been drawn in Pool B, which should make for a relatively easy few games for the side who will play Malawi, Wales, Scotland and Uganda. New Zealand’s Silver Ferns have also been drawn in Pool B which will prove to be the greatest challenge for the England team, especially under the circumstances that no other country has ever beaten the indomitable teams of Australia and New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games arena. Host nation Australia have been drawn in Pool A along with South Africa, Barbados, Fiji, Northern Ireland and Jamaica. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the knockout rounds.
Undoubtedly, the favourites for the gold medal will be the Diamonds with home advantage and after coming out of the January Quad Series with a first place finish. South Africa have been agonisingly close to beating Australia in previous matches, losing their first game of the Quad Series by four goals, so they will be attempting to regain momentum and punish the Australians. Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls will also be looking to win the title after their bronze medal finish at the last Commonwealth Games.
Head Coach Tracey Neville has been nothing but enthusiastic about her England side, whilst speaking for a press release to England Netball, she stated that she believes her team has “versatility, strength [...] and a wealth of experience with players who can lead the team from the front”.
The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth games take place from the 4th of April to the 15th. England’s first game will be against Scotland on Thursday 5th April and will be available on the BBC.
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