England opened their Commonwealth Games netball campaign with an 83-34 victory over Northern Ireland in Pool A. The 2018 champions led 24-7 early on before Northern Ireland slowed England's scoring, but the Warriors could not close the gap as third-ranked England rotated their squad in the second half.
How did England take control?
England took command quickly and never let Northern Ireland back into the contest. Experienced shooter Eleanor Cardwell came on after half-time and scored 35 of her 37 shots, a total higher than the Northern Ireland team managed combined, as England's class told.
The Roses are aiming to regain the title they won on the Gold Coast after failing to reach the podium four years later in Birmingham, but they have had a difficult build-up to the tournament. Only two players in the 12-strong squad have Commonwealth Games experience — Cardwell and Imogen Allison — after injuries to gold medallists Helen Housby and Natalie Metcalf, who withdrew with a calf injury on Monday.
England are also being led by interim head coach Anna Stembridge after Jess Thirlby stepped down in March for family reasons. Stembridge has returned to the role for a second spell after previously serving as head coach from 2011 to 2015.
England's next match is against reigning champions Australia at 11:00 BST on Sunday. Australia beat Tonga 99-38, while hosts Scotland lost 74-44 to 2022 bronze medallists New Zealand in the opening match of the competition.
Why is Fran Williams looking forward to Australia?
England captain Fran Williams knows plenty about the Roses' next opponents, Australia. The 28-year-old plays for Perth-based West Coast Fever in the Australian league and expects a physical contest against the top-ranked side on Sunday.
Physicality, that in abundance, is the Aussie style of play and you just have to be part of that to see what that intensity looks like,
Williams told BBC Radio 5 Live.
I'm excited to see how we match up. You want to play the world's best and they are the world's best at the moment.
I love the pressure of that, those games that really challenge, and it's so good to get that kind of game so early in a competition too.
The game will be only the second Commonwealth Games appearance for Williams, who has won a silver and bronze at the World Cup for England. England's convincing win over Northern Ireland has helped ease any debut nerves.
I'm proud of that being our first performance knowing we've had 10 Commonwealth debuts out there,
Williams said.
It's important that we showed lots of different combinations and tested out our whole 12.
Key Facts
- England beat Northern Ireland 83-34 in Pool A.
- Eleanor Cardwell scored 35 of her 37 shots after half-time.
- England face Australia at 11:00 BST on Sunday.
- Helen Housby and Natalie Metcalf withdrew with injury before the tournament.
- Anna Stembridge is in interim charge after Jess Thirlby stepped down in March.
