The Vitality Roses opened their three-match home series against New Zealand's Silver Ferns with a hard-fought 59–56 victory at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on Saturday evening. In a contest that swung back and forth across all four quarters, head coach Jess Thirlby's side showed the composure and resilience that have become hallmarks of their recent international form.
England captain Fran Williams led from the front in defence, producing a commanding display at goal defence that included four intercepts and a string of deflections. Her partnership with goal keeper Funmi Fadoju proved an effective barrier against New Zealand's attacking circle, with the pair working in tandem to limit the Silver Ferns' shooting opportunities throughout a frenetic opening half. It was Williams who set the tone early, with a spectacular intercept in the first minute that led directly to an England goal.
In attack, goal shooter Eleanor Cardwell was the standout performer, finishing with 38 goals from 41 attempts — a clinical 93 per cent conversion rate that underlined why she remains one of the most feared shooters in world netball. Goal attack Halimat Adio, returning to the squad after a year away from the full-time programme, provided excellent support with 19 goals and a number of incisive feeds into the circle that kept the New Zealand defence guessing.
The Silver Ferns, ranked second in the world, refused to go quietly. After trailing by six goals at three-quarter time, they mounted a spirited fightback in the final period, outscoring England 18–13 to close the gap to three. A mid-court surge from the visitors had the home crowd on edge, but the Roses held their nerve in the closing minutes, with centre Lois Pearson producing a crucial turnover in the final two minutes to secure the result.
"We knew New Zealand would throw everything at us and they certainly did in that last quarter," Thirlby said. "But I was really pleased with the way we managed the game. There's a maturity about this group now — they've been tested in these situations before and they know how to close out tight matches."
The result continues an outstanding period for England, who are currently ranked third in the world following series victories against Jamaica and South Africa in recent months. With the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on the horizon and the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney to follow, the Roses are building momentum at the perfect time. The second test takes place in London next weekend.
