England’s netball team suffered a heavy defeat against Australia at the Commonwealth Games, falling 66-47 at The Hydro in Glasgow. The reigning champions dominated the match with a physical style of play that England struggled to counter.

Following the loss on Sunday, England’s squad conducted a debrief session to analyze their performance and prepare for their next game against Malawi, scheduled for Monday. Manchester Thunder shooter Eleanor Cardwell acknowledged moments where England’s attack was effective, but recognized inconsistency as a major issue. “There were patches of brilliance and times we pulled their defence apart. But that wasn’t consistent,” she said, adding that the team planned to review footage of the match to address their weaknesses.

England, who won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, missed out on a podium finish at the most recent edition in 2022. Captain Fran Williams emphasized the need for greater resilience against physical opponents, stating, “We didn’t cope well with their physicality. We need to be stronger and make sure we’re on the right side of those 50-50 contests.”

The result underscored the challenge England faces in trying to reclaim top honors in a highly competitive tournament. They now turn their focus to Malawi as they seek to recover and build momentum for the remainder of the competition.