England quickly recovered from the sting of their Commonwealth Games netball defeat at the hands of Australia, securing a vital and commanding triumph over Malawi on the courts of Glasgow. After the heavy 66-47 loss to the Australian side in their second group encounter on Sunday, the English squad regrouped and delivered a dominant 73-38 victory against the African opponents, re‑establishing their confidence and momentum in the tournament.
From the opening whistle, England set the tone with an aggressive, fast‑paced approach. Their early surge saw them build a sizable lead, and by the interval they were comfortably ahead by 14 points, holding a 37-23 advantage. The relentless pressure continued into the third quarter, where the English attackers added another 18 goals, further widening the gap and leaving Malawi struggling to find any foothold. Sasha Glasgow, who has become a key figure for the Vitality Roses, contributed significantly to the Malawian team's woes, scoring with precision and power.
England's campaign in Glasgow began in spectacular fashion with an 84-35 demolition of Northern Ireland, a result that signalled their intent to be serious contenders. They maintained that high‑intensity style throughout the match against Malawi, and the final period saw London Pulse star Olivia Tchine finish the game with an impressive 24 goals. Tchine’s clinical finishing and ability to read the game under pressure were instrumental in sealing the comprehensive win. "Getting back to where we are was important," said vice‑captain Amy Carter in the post‑match interview.
"After yesterday's loss, we've definitely turned things around today and fixed some of the things we got wrong." Carter highlighted the team's determination to correct the mistakes that had cost them against Australia and to re‑establish the standards expected of the Vitality Roses. When asked about the physicality of the opposition, Carter noted, "Australia are obviously very physical, and so are Malawi, so it was good to match up to that and stand up to that challenge. We definitely wanted to go out there and be ruthless today. Sometimes it's hard when you start a quarter well to maintain that consistency and keep turning the screw, but I think we certainly did that." Her comments underscored the mental resilience the squad displayed, especially after the demoralising defeat the previous day.
The victory over Malawi keeps England firmly in contention for a semi‑final berth. However, their path is not yet guaranteed.
The Vitality Roses must now face South Africa in their final group match on Thursday. A win against the South Africans will be essential for England to stay alive in the competition and preserve their hopes of reaching the medal rounds. The line‑up that helped England dominate the game featured a blend of experience and youthful vigor across all three thirds.
In defence, Halimat Adio (28, London Pulse), Fran Williams (28, Reading, West Coast Fever), Funmi Fadoju (23, Redbridge, London Pulse) and Jayda Pechova (21, Fleet, Nottingham Forest) formed a solid wall that limited Malawi’s attacking options and forced turnovers that were quickly converted into points. The midfield was anchored by Imo Allison (28, Huddersfield, Queensland Firebirds), Jess Shaw (30, Stockport, Loughborough Lightning), Amy Carter (27, Nottingham, AO Manchester Thunder) and Nat Metcalf (33, Keighley, AO Manchester Thunder). Their ability to transition the ball swiftly from defence to attack, coupled with accurate feeding to the shooters, was a key factor in maintaining England’s high scoring rate.
Up front, the attacking quartet comprised Sasha Glasgow (27, Moonta, Australia, West Coast Fever), Liv Tchine (25, London, London Pulse), Eleanor Cardwell (31, Blackpool, AO Manchester Thunder) and Lois Pearson (26, Bury, AO Manchester Thunder). This unit combined power, precision, and tactical awareness, allowing England to keep the scoreboard ticking over at an impressive clip throughout the match. The Vitality Roses, representing England Netball’s senior side, currently sit third in the World Netball rankings. Their performance in Glasgow demonstrates that, despite a setback against a physically imposing Australian team, they possess the depth, skill, and mental fortitude to bounce back swiftly.
The upcoming clash with South Africa will be a true test of their adaptability and resolve, but the comprehensive win over Malawi suggests that England are more than capable of rising to the occasion. Fans can continue to follow the tournament live on Sky Sports, tune into the "Off the Court" podcast for behind‑the‑scenes insights, and catch highlight reels and video clips through the Sky Sports app. As the competition progresses, the Vitality Roses will aim to translate their dominant display against Malawi into another victory, keeping their medal aspirations firmly within reach.