Australia secured their 12th championship title by defeating England with a dominating performance, finishing the match with a scoreline of 61-45, in the Netball World Cup Final. Despite England’s spirited journey to their first-ever World Cup final, the experienced Australian team proved too strong.
England entered the final with high hopes following their group-stage victory over Australia and a thrilling semi-final win against New Zealand. However, the Diamonds showed their class, ultimately clinching the coveted trophy and leaving England with a silver medal.
While the disappointment of not securing the title was evident among the Roses, they managed to equal the nation’s best result at the tournament, previously achieved in 1975. Coach Jess Thirlby acknowledged the challenge of facing seasoned finalists, citing the need for more resilience and better ball control against a formidable Australian team.
The rivalry between England and Australia has been growing, with England claiming Commonwealth gold against the Diamonds in 2018. However, Australia avenged their loss last year, knocking England out of the Commonwealth Games at the semi-final stage, and this final further showcased the competitive nature of the two teams.
Despite the defeat, England can take pride in their performance and the historical achievement of reaching the final. Players like shooter Eleanor Cardwell and mid-courter Imogen Allison expressed immense pride in their silver medal and vowed to use this experience as a stepping stone to future success.
Australia’s dominance was evident throughout the final, as they capitalized on England’s mistakes and consistently applied pressure. Coach Stacey Marinkovich made strategic decisions that kept England on the back foot and controlled the game’s tempo.
England fought hard to stay in the contest but struggled to handle Australia’s dynamic attack circle, bolstered by the introduction of Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin. The Roses made valiant efforts in defense, but the experienced Australian team’s clinical play proved too much to handle in the end.
-BBC-
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