Glasgow 2026: England netball secures semi-final berth after comeback win against South Africa
England secured a spot in the Commonwealth Games 2026 netball semi-finals following a 58-54 victory over South Africa. The win sets up a semi-final match against New Zealand, a repeat of the bronze-medal match from the previous edition of the Games. The Roses, as the England team is known, overcame an initial deficit to claim the crucial win.
The match began with South Africa taking an early lead, with the Proteas establishing a 17-11 advantage in the first quarter. Elmere van der Berg was noted for her clinical play during this period. However, England made strategic changes, with Funmi Fadoju and Halimat Adio bolstering the defence. Adio, in particular, made key interceptions and forced turnovers, contributing to England’s recovery.
The defensive adjustments, combined with strong shooting from Liv Tchine, allowed England to reduce South Africa’s lead to just one point by half-time. The momentum continued to shift in England’s favour, further aided by an injury to South Africa’s Khanyise Chawane, which impacted their mid-court play. Tchine and Lois Pearson formed a strong partnership, consistently scoring points and helping England build a four-point lead by the end of the third quarter.
Halimat Adio, a goal keeper for England, expressed her excitement about reaching the semi-finals, noting that it was her first Commonwealth Games and her first semi-final appearance. She highlighted the team’s “winning mindset” as crucial to their comeback, especially after falling behind early in the game. Adio also discussed her defensive approach, describing herself as a “chaotic defender” who uses “mind games” on the court. She draws inspiration from other players, such as Australia’s Courtney Bruce, known for her psychological tactics.
The final quarter saw England maintain their composure, not conceding a turnover or missing a shot until the final minute, ultimately securing the victory. Nia Jones, speaking after the match, commented on England’s character and the effectiveness of the changes made by coach Anna Stembridge. She noted that the defensive pairing of Adio and Fadoju significantly disrupted South Africa’s attack. For South Africa, Elmere van der Berg acknowledged that the team might have become complacent after their strong start and emphasised the need to be more physical and consistent against higher-ranked teams.
The Commonwealth Games 2026 schedule includes a variety of sports. On the day following England’s netball victory, events will feature the men’s and women’s 200m finals in athletics at Scotstoun, as well as Georgia Hunter Bell competing in the women’s 800m final. The judo competition is also set to begin at the SEC Centre, with quarter-finals scheduled from 11:00-14:00 and five gold medal matches from 16:00-18:45. The velodrome will host seven track cycling and Para-track cycling finals from 16:00-20:15.
Other scheduled events include bowls and Para-bowls from 08:30-14:00 and again from 15:00-22:00. Netball will feature classification matches from 09:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:30. Athletics and Para-athletics will have sessions from 10:00-14:30 and 10 finals from 18:30-22:00. Boxing semi-finals are scheduled throughout the day, with four semi-finals from 10:30-12:30, five from 14:30-17:00, and another five from 19:00-21:30. The netball semi-final between England and New Zealand is scheduled for Saturday.
Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
