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Anna Stembridge, the head coach of England’s netball team, has stated that she will reconsider her future in the position following the Roses’ failure to secure a medal at the Commonwealth Games. England was unable to overcome the world’s top-ranked Australian team, losing 68-50 in the bronze medal match. Stembridge’s appointment came in March after Jess Thirlby stepped down, and it was anticipated that her long-term role would be evaluated after this tournament.
Reflecting on the disappointment, Stembridge told BBC Sport, “I think it’s a real tough one to swallow in terms of not coming away with a medal.” She emphasized the need to be honest and transparent about her next steps: “I was fiercely focused on this tournament and I will just take some time to reassess and decide what’s right for me and my family, but then also what’s right for England Netball.” She added that she needed time to process the loss before considering what is best for everyone involved.
The match followed England’s difficult semi-final defeat to New Zealand, which took place the previous morning. Despite that setback, the Roses aimed to bounce back and clinch a podium finish facing an Australian team that was recovering from a stunning upset by Jamaica—an unexpected result that left the Diamonds with less recovery time. Though England initially pressured Australia’s shooting opportunities, the Diamonds found their footing quickly and took control, establishing a strong lead early on.
During the first quarter, Australia overturned a 9-7 deficit to lead 19-11, and England struggled to maintain momentum in the second quarter against Australia’s formidable shooters Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin. A crucial loose pass from England captain Fran Williams allowed Austin to extend the lead, with the teams at 35-24 at halftime. England’s substitute shooter Eleanor Cardwell helped spark a rally in the third quarter, narrowing the gap significantly, but the Australians maintained their advantage through the final period.
For Australia, the bronze medal match was an unusual stage as they are accustomed to competing in finals and have secured four Commonwealth titles. Their focus appeared to be on reaffirming their reputation as a dominant force in netball. Stacey Marinkovich’s squad played with professionalism and resilience, ultimately defeating England by a similar margin as they did in the tournament’s pool stage.
England captain Fran Williams expressed pride in her team’s efforts despite the tough loss. Speaking to BBC Sport, she said, “I’m just so proud of the girls, the fight that we had through this 10 days to keep showing up and responding.” She acknowledged the challenges posed by fatigue and the mental demands of tournament play but encouraged her team to use these lessons to strengthen their resolve ahead of the next World Cup. Williams concluded, “I’m not going away from that World Cup next year without a medal and standing on that podium, hopefully with a gold, so we’ll be doing as much as we can in the next 12 months to make sure that we are in a better position to fight in these final games.”
Meanwhile, Jamaica, having never won Commonwealth Games gold in netball, moved on to face two-time champions New Zealand in the final, with their match scheduled for Sunday afternoon
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