If revenge is best served cold then Tracey Neville’s England dished out generous double portions at the Commonwealth Games.
Neville’s Roses won their first-ever Commonwealth Games netball match against New Zealand by a commanding 54-45 scoreline.
It secures progress to the semi-finals unbeaten and gives confidence that England could improve their best previous performance, bronze medals in 2006 and 2010, this weekend.
Meanwhile, New Zealand - who have won a gold or silver in every Commonwealth Games - look a shattered team in retreat.
“That means a lot to me and this team, New Zealand have won too many of those matches against us over the years,” said Neville.
“We wanted to finish top of the group and we wanted to finish as we mean to go on. There were a lot of nerves out there and we will be a lot stronger for coming through this experience.
“There’s a great momentum building and a feeling something special is happening with this group of players.”
Helen Housby and Joanne Harten drained 27 points each, with shooting percentages in the high 80s, as England took an early lead against the Silver Ferns - which they never lost and only built across four quarters.
Next up is Jamaica, another team with history against England - dramatically beating them to bronze at the last Games in Glasgow, with many of the current team’s friends and family watching in the stands.
“Jamaica have come into this tournament and made a real hard statement,” added Neville. “They really took it to New Zealand in their recent Test series.
“They are a really strong possession team and it’s hard to get the ball off them. We struggled with that when we last played them a couple of years ago and they made it hard for us to convert our opportunities.
“We’ve got a very even record against them at the Commonwealth Games and, of course, Glasgow hurt.
“We normally play them in the bronze medal match, so it will be interesting to take them on in a semi-final.
“They’re on hot form and it will be really challenging but we’ll be going in unbeaten, with lots of confidence. It’s just the next hurdle we need to clear for the gold medal, we want to beat everyone.”
npower is the Official Partner of Team England and is giving our athletes the power of support by recording a brand new version of their anthem, Jerusalem. To listen to the track visit npower.com/teamengland
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