New Zealand v England - Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games netball semi-final result as Roses have to settle for bronze-medal match
Updated 01/08/2026 at 11:08 GMT+1
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England will have to settle for the bronze-medal match after being beaten 61-54 by New Zealand in the first semi-final as the Silver Ferns reached their first final in 12 years. Watch and stream every event from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games exclusively live across TNT Sports and all HBO Max plans in the UK and Ireland.
'In their DNA' - New Zealand beat England to reach netball final
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The Roses could not recover at the Glasgow Games from a slow start that saw them finish the first quarter five points behind as Grace Nweke was allowed to dominate the shooting circle.
Anna Stembridge was alert to rotating her side and looked to make crucial changes, including the introduction of Eleanor Cardwell, as England stemmed the flow of points, drawing the second quarter with some momentum going into the break.
However, New Zealand put the Roses to the sword in the third quarter, as Kelly Jackson starred as goal keeper, putting interceptions in to stretch the advantage.
England needed a miracle in the final quarter that did not come, as their desperate bid for turnovers allowed the Silver Ferns to profit.
Although they clawed back at the deficit towards the end, England will have to settle for bronze at best, and will face the loser of this afternoon's clash between Australia and Jamaica.
The Roses had booked their spot in the medal matches with a clinical 58-54 win over South Africa to take second place in Group A, spearheaded by strong performances from Halimat Adio and Liv Tchine.
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Highlights: England edge out South Africa to secure last-four spot
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The Silver Ferns had topped Group B, winning every single match, including a strong opening victory over hosts Scotland and a crucial win over last edition's silver medallists Jamaica.
An emotional Eleanor Cardwell told TNT Sports: "I feel that we threw everything at it today, but they were the better team.
"I am a little bit disappointed with how we performed. I know we can do better. We are all about responses, so we are going to go back to the drawing board.
"I don't want that feeling again [of missing out on bronze in 2022], that's going to fuel the fire. We have got to get a medal around our neck, there's no question about it.
"We have to work our a**** off."
New Zealand captain Karin Burger said: "What a good feeling, it’s what we have been waiting for.
"Maybe a little bit towards the end, we started to drop off a little bit, but we are just happy to be in this position.
"Playing in a venue with so many English fans brings a little grit to the game, but I guess we used that fuel to give it back to them.
"We’ve got such a really good group, and built a lot of resilience. Anything that’s coming our way, we will be ready for it."
Re-live the match with our live updates and play-by-play coverage below. You can watch every match live on TNT Sports and HBO Max using the link below.
All over! New Zealand 61-54 England
That will be that!
England do take the final quarter but New Zealand will not mind one bit.
They chase their third gold in their seventh Commonwealth Games final, but first since 2014.
Who will England face in bronze medal match?
Q4: New Zealand 61-53 England
Both sides are getting error-strewn as the result looks set.
Now it is just seeing who England will face in the bronze-medal match - Jamaica or Australia?
Clark cameo lasts 30 seconds
Q4: New Zealand 60-50 England
Jess Shaw is ready to come back on. Ella Clark's cameo lasts all of 30 seconds.
Kelly Jackson has been brilliant in defence. She makes another interception to slow down an English attack.
Three minutes remaining.
Surely not enough time left
Q4: New Zealand 58-48 England
Ama Agbeze believes there is still time. Surely that is wishful thinking, as Liv Tchine cuts the gap to nine.
Everything, and I mean everything, needs to go England's way.
Jess Shaw has a cut on her elbow and has to come off to stem the flow of blood. Ella Clark comes on.
Another English turnover
Q4: New Zealand 57-47 England
Grace Nweke is in acres of space as the Silver Ferns keep the points flowing at the other end, despite England's improved attacking play.
Another interception! The gap reduces again...
England reduce gap
Q4: New Zealand 54-43 England
It's England's turn to get an advantage after Grace Nweke is penalised for contact.
The Roses go back-to-back. Those in the Hydro are not giving up.
Eight to go.
Quality performance from Kiwis
Q4: New Zealand 54-41 England
The Heffernan sisters are finding too much space at the moment for the Silver Ferns. They have shown such professionalism to get the job done amid English pressure.
That long shot from Sasha Glasgow is nice, but not enough.
Liv Tchine is back on court.
Sloppiness creeps in as Roses get desperate
Q4: New Zealand 52-38 England
Another loose pass. England are getting desperate and New Zealand are profiting.
This could get messy. It looks like the Roses will have to settle for the bronze-medal match.
New Zealand extend advantage
Q4: New Zealand 49-38 England
Too easy. Grace Nweke draws first blood for New Zealand.
An open quarter suits the Roses, but not if New Zealand keep scoring. The Silver Ferns intercept and stretch their lead to 11.
Final quarter underway
Q4: New Zealand 46-37 England
That quarter was 17-13 to the Silver Ferns. It had to be the other way round for the Roses to have any hope.
England need five unanswered turnovers effectively if they want to reach their second-ever Commonwealth Games netball final.
Jess Shaw is back on at centre.
End of third quarter
Q3: New Zealand 46-37 England
Sasha Glasgow sinks a long shot. The England fans are not giving up in the Hydro.
But it looks like this quarter will be terminal. Nine points is surely too much.
Match-winning quarter for Ferns?
Q3: New Zealand 45-36 England
Two minutes left in the quarter and it looks like New Zealand have taken the match in it.
The gap is oscillating between eight and nine right now. That is surely too much to overturn in one quarter.
Pechova on for Roses
Q3: New Zealand 41-33 England
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan picks up a big turnover and Grace Nweke move the Silver Ferns into the forties.
Funmi Fadoju goes into goal defence as Jayda Pechova comes in at goal keeper.
Something has to change.
England battling to stay in the match
Q3: New Zealand 39-32 England
Change for England as Sasha Glasgow comes on at goal attack, as Lois Pearson shifts to wing attack. Jess Shaw is off.
England are fighting tooth and nail just to keep the deficit as is. Jayda Pechova is set to come on.
Too easy for the Ferns
Q3: New Zealand 38-29 England
A turnover apiece means England just about hold their centre pass, but it's not enough at the moment.
Lois Pearson does a sensational job to keep a ball in play, but again, New Zealand go up the other end to respond with an easy point.
New Zealand keep gaining
Q3: New Zealand 35-26 England
Another error from England, another opportunity for New Zealand to extend their advantage.
Grace Nweke is making things very tough for the Roses. It is 6-2 to the Ferns this quarter.
Disastrous start from England
Q3: New Zealand 32-25 England
An early slip up from the Roses allows Grace Nweke to pick up where she left off.
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan flicks away another ball from Jess Shaw and this looks like a disastrous start from England.
Third quarter underway
Q3: New Zealand 29-24 England
England have half an hour to salvage their gold-medal hopes.
Strap yourselves in.
Stats appear more even than the scoreline
According to the stats, the only difference between the two sides are the penalties, where England have conceded 11 more.
Ama Agbeze is questioning how the interceptions are only one apiece and you can see why. I can definitely remember New Zealand making more.
Agbeze: 'They're not confident'
Former England player and gold medallist Ama Agbeze said to TNT Sports: "They did start quite flat against South Africa and they lifted so we know they have it in them. But they have to win the ball and we saw Fadoju come out.
She did get called for contact but that's the type of thing.
"At the moment, England have been sitting back defensively, trying to keep possession off Nweke.
"She's too tall, she's too strong, she's too accurate. We need to win the ball outside.
"There were a few occasions when the whole team put pressure on the New Zealand team, and then they need to play outside to win the ball.
"They're not doing that at the moment. They're not confident."
Agbeze: 'I think it's been pretty even'
Former England player and gold medallist Ama Agbeze said to TNT Sports: "I don't think the scoreline reflects the game, I think it's been pretty even.
"England just a bit lax in concentration at the start, allowing New Zealand to get a few runs on the board.
"But the changes that England made were good, but they have taken some time to settle."
Jackson: 'We just need to keep doing what we're doing'
A snap quote from New Zealand's goal keeper here:
Kelly Jackson said: "I don't think we need to change too much, we just keep needing to do what we're doing"
End of second quarter
Q2: New Zealand 29-24 England
New Zealand should have time to score before the buzzer. The Hydro is electric right now!
Grace Nweke will have time to take this shot after the bell goes and she sinks it.
It was 13 all that quarter but it felt like England's.
Big miss from Nweke
Q2: New Zealand 28-24 England
Lois Pearson is eight from eight today. She needs more service though.
Miss from Grace Nweke! That was uncharacteristic.
Eleanor Cardwell converts!
New Zealand go back-to-back
Q2: New Zealand 28-21 England
We are back to a four point game! Can England further cut the gap before the break?
Not with loose passes like that! Kelly Jackson intercepts and New Zealand move ahead again.
That will hurt.
Fantastic play from Allison!
Q2: New Zealand 25-20 England
England's lack of height in defence is looking a bit costly. Fran Williams is the tallest at 184cm.
That is not stopping Imogen Allison forcing a turnover! If England can win this quarter and reduce the deficit it would be a huge boost going into the interval.
Wonderful scoop from Allison to recover a loose ball and Lois Pearson is there to convert!
Wasted opportunity for Roses
Q2: New Zealand 23-17 England
Funmi Fadoju is going for optimistic interceptions to try and stem the service to Grace Nweke but it is not coming off thus far.
Another Turnover for England! But Eleanor Cardwell cannot gather and it is all for nothing.
More contact from Fadoju hands New Zealand an easy point.
England bite back
Q2: New Zealand 21-15 England
Good pressure from England and the ball sails out of play. Now they need to convert.
Eleanor Cardwell tumbles into touch, and Lois Pearson sinks the resultant free shot.
Better.
New Zealand dominating
Q2: New Zealand 21-12 England
We are back to a six-point game. England's changes have not improved things. A great tip from Kate Heffernan instigates another turnover and New Zealand are beginning to race out of sight now.
So-so England start
Q2: New Zealand 17-12 England
If England need encouragement, they are actually better off than they were against South Africa at this stage, by one point.
The Roses defend well, but Grace Nweke does what she does, finding space and converting.
However, a turnover for New Zealand undoes all that hard work.
Second quarter underway
Q2: New Zealand 16-11 England
Change for England, as Amy Carter comes on at centre, with Halimat Adio making way, as everyone else shuffles back accordingly.
Can England narrow the deficit ahead of half-time?
End of first quarter
Q1: New Zealand 16-11 England
Can New Zealand score before the buzzer? No!
Huge roars from the fans, but it is still very much New Zealand's quarter.
New Zealand holding advantage
Q1: New Zealand 16-10 England
Cardwell gets away with a miss after contact, and sinks the second attempt. She has got the England fans in the Hydro cheering, even if the deficit remains constant.
Georgia Heffernan is getting too much space in the shooting circle as the mere presence of Grace Nweke provides enough chaos.
Cardwell on and scoring immediately
Q1: New Zealand 13-8 England
Early change for England. Eleanor Cardwell is on for Liv Tchine. She immediately gets on the scoresheet.
Another roar as Funmi Fadoju claws the ball away from Grace Nweke but there is no player in red to clean up and the Silver Ferns eventually score.
Early concerns for England
Q1: New Zealand 11-5 England
A strong take from Grace Nweke maintains New Zealand's four-point advantage, before another turnover allows Nweke to further extend their lead.
The Roses are in early trouble here.
Ferns taking control
Q1: New Zealand 7-3 England
The nerves are evident as this match gets scrappy, but it is New Zealand who are profiting from that more.
Liv Tchine misses from range. The Roses need to settle before this quarter gets out of control. They are lucky to only be four down.
We are halfway through the first quarter.
Turnovers aplenty
Q1: New Zealand 3-3 England
Three turnovers already, before New Zealand finally get some daylight. Liv Tchine settles herself too with her first point of the match.
Huge roars as the Silver Ferns are caught out for an early offside. England fly up the court and level up!
England make up for early error
Q1: New Zealand 1-1 England
New Zealand force a turnover early doors as England's optimistic pass to Lois Pearson does not come off.
Maddy Gordon is central to the move for the SIlver Ferns before Grace Nweke opens her account.
England then win the ball through Lois Pearson. Liv Tchine does well to keep hold of it, before Pearson gets England level against after that early hiccup!
Match underway!
Q1: New Zealand 0-0 England
Here come the players! The England fans have come out in full flock at the Hydro, and will be thankful for the indoor court as the conditions are pretty changeable outside in Glasgow.
Both of these two teams have a 100% record of reaching the semi-finals. One of them will win at least a silver medal.
England have only won one semi though, compared to New Zealand's five, but the Silver Ferns have lost their last two.
After the countdown, the Roses get us underway!
Teams out!
The big call for England was whether Halimat Adio would get the nod after her superb performance against South Africa. She does.
As does Funmi Fadoju, who also played well off the bench, as England reshuffle to accommodate them.
Here are your teams to start this huge semi-final clash:
New Zealand
GK: Kelly Jackson
GD: Karin Burger
WD: Mila Reuelu-Buchanan
C: Kate Heffernan
WA: Maddy Gordon
GA: Georgia Heffernan
GS: Grace Nweke
England
GK: Halimat Adio
GD: Funmi Fadoju
WD: Fran Williams
C: Imogen Allison
WA: Jess Shaw
GA: Lois Pearson
GS: Liv Tchine
Head to head - It doesn't look great...
These two sides have met at every single Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand have won all but two of those meetings, including both times they met in the semi-finals (1998 and 2014).
However, England have won two of the last three, including on the Gold Coast in 2018 on their way to the gold medal.
England's path to the semis
The Roses have faced more adversity on their route to the semi-finals, both before and during the tournament, but will be hoping some home support at the Hydro will help them over the line.
Although one would expect your average Scot to side with the Silver Ferns, a trip on the train up from England is far easier than a 24-hour flight across the world.
England 83-34 Northern Ireland
Australia 66-47 England
Malawi 38-73 England
England 94-32 Tonga
England 58-54 South Africa
How did New Zealand reach the semi-finals?
New Zealand might fancy themselves as slight favourites today, having topped their group and are yet to lose a game in Glasgow.
Here is their route to the semis:
New Zealand 74-44 Scotland
New Zealand 53-48 Jamaica
Uganda 50-58 New Zealand
New Zealand 65-37 Wales
New Zealand 83-23 Trinidad and Tobago
Revenge, what revenge?
The two sides met not once, but twice in Birmingham 2022.
Drawn in the same group, England will have been boosted by a 54-44 win in the final match of the group as both sides qualified for the semis.
However, come the bronze-medal match, the Roses could not stop a free-scoring Grace Nweke, who scored 44 points on her own in a 55-48 win.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage as England take on New Zealand in the first semi-final, looking to exact revenge after the anguish in Birmingham four years ago.
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