England's netball team has been eliminated from the Commonwealth Games gold-medal match following a 61-54 semi-final defeat against New Zealand. The Roses will now contend for the bronze medal while New Zealand advances to the final.
New Zealand established an early lead, demonstrating fast passing and accuracy, but England managed to equalize at 3-3. However, the Silver Ferns, bolstered by the height advantage of shooter Grace Nweke, regained control. By the end of the first quarter, New Zealand held a 16-11 advantage.
England showed renewed intensity in the second quarter, narrowing the deficit to 25-21 by halftime. Nweke, who had scored 23 goals from 23 attempts, missed a shot just before the break, leaving the door open for a potential comeback for England's side.
Despite moments of strong defensive play from England, they struggled to consistently convert possession into goals. This allowed New Zealand to extend their lead to nine points with 15 minutes remaining. The Roses mounted a late charge to close the gap to seven by the final whistle.
New Zealand will compete for Commonwealth gold for the first time since 2014, having last won the title in 2010. The final will take place on Sunday, with New Zealand facing either Australia or Jamaica. England will play their bronze-medal match earlier on Sunday.