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Australia canter to victory over South Africa to go top of Group A in Commonwealth Games netball tournament
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Updated 29/07/2026 at 22:31 GMT+1
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Australia and South Africa meet in the final game of Group A as they battle to finish top of the group on Wednesday night at the Hydro. The right result could see England move into second spot and be well placed for the semi-finals.
Australia beat England in netball clash
Image credit: Getty Images
FULL-TIME - Australia dominate again
Australia ended Wednesday night top of Group A in the Commonwealth Games netball competition.
The Diamonds are the No. 1 side in the world and had already crushed England with a routine performance, and had three wins from three matches.
South Africa were their opponents, and they also had a 100% winning record after their first three games.
However, South Africa are yet to win against Australia and were looking for a maiden victory, one which would have separated them at the top of the group and put them in good position to go through to the final four with a favourable draw.
They trailed by just a point after Q1, with the scores at 14-13, but the gap widened at half-time to 32-21, an eleven-point margin that was never seriously threatened.
South Africa won the last half 26-25, meaning it was a 57-47 win for Australia, who now sit two points clear of South Africa and England. The latter two play on Thursday as they tussle for the remaining qualifying place for the semi-finals.
FULL-TIME - Australia 57 South Africa 47
South Africa nudge the quarter in their favour briefly, but it ends as a tie for that period, and can be proud of the effort, but once again, Australia are just too good.
Q4 - Australia 49 South Africa 40
Nine points clear for Australia as they realise they are in danger of having to make a game of it for the remainder of the quarter.
Q4 - Australia 46 South Africa 39
Seven points now. 11 minutes remaining. This isn't impossible, but still very unlikely.
Q4 - Australia 46 South Africa 37
Nine points the difference. A few more for South Africa and perhaps there will be some nerves.
Q3 - Australia 45 South Africa 35
Australia lose the quarter 14-13. It's 10 points the difference, which is almost certainly enough. We wait for Q4.
Q3 - Australia 42 South Africa 28
There are five minutes of the quarter remaining.
Q3 - Australia 38 South Africa 25
Another Australia turnover betrays the ruthless pressure from the Diamonds that is increasing each quarter.
Q3 - Australia 35 South Africa 22
Smith makes a great interception and South Africa miss through Ngubane at the other end.
Q3 - Australia 33 South Africa 21
Some changes have been made, which I'll try to pick out from the country's social media.
HALF-TIME Australia 32 South Africa 21
Australia edged the first half 14-13, and won the second by a huge 18-8 margin. They're 11 points clear, and they are cruising to go two points clear at the top of Pool A.
Q2 - Australia 31 South Africa 19
There is that 11-point margin, and now it's at 12. The South African coaching team are in discussion.
Q2 - Australia 26 South Africa 19
South Africa have whittled the deficit down a tad, so there remains some hope. Given they are searching for a first win against Australia, it must be a bruising situation already.
Q2 - Australia 25 South Africa 15
A lot of people suggest that 11 points is where the game becomes close to unwinnable in netball.
Australia could be well further clear by half-time. About seven minutes left.
Q2 - Australia 22 South Africa 15
Ngubane on for Maseko. She gets her first goal.
Q2 - Australia 19 South Africa 13
Australia go six clear through Garrett. The game is on the cusp of getting away from South Africa.
Q2 - Australia 15 South Africa 13
Visser is on for South Africa. Australia score early in the opening moments.
Q1 - Australia 14 South Africa 13
Australia go into the second quarter a point ahead.
Q1 - Australia 12 South Africa 11
Two minutes or so remain of the first quarter. South Africa are yet to lose a quarter in this Games.
Q1 - Australia 10 South Africa 9
Watson gives up the ball and then Weston is penalised. South Africa add another point to their tally.
Q1 - Australia 9 South Africa 6
Australia, as they did against England earlier in the week, are starting to pull away. When that happened, they did not once give up the lead again.
Q1 - Australia 6 South Africa 5
Some fairly physical defence from South Africa can't stop Australia moving forward and taking the lead for the first time in the match.
Q1 - Australia 5 South Africa 5
The top team draw level.
Q1 - Australia 2 South Africa 3
Australia go brielfy level before Bruce adds another. A succession of turnovers gives the fifth-ranked team the ball back.
Q1 - Australia 1 South Africa 2
South Africa score the first two points of the game before Australia pull one back.
The match gets underway
We are live,
South Africa's team
South Africa: Van der Berg, Maseko, Chawane, Mathe, Golob, Pretorious, Smith. Interchange: Ngubane, Nketsa, Streutker, Victor, Visser.
Australia line-up
Australia: Garbin, Austin, Watson, Moloney, Price, Weston, Bruce. Interchange: Dwyer, Garrett, Horjus, Klau, Koenen
South Africa looking for their maiden win over Australia
What next for England?
On Thursday, England then face a crunch match with South Africa, with Australia likely winning their next game against Northern Ireland in the preceding afternoon.
What's at stake?
Australia and South Africa both have three wins from three, and their goal difference is just seven different (South Africa +123, Australia +116).
However, England have three wins from four, and a better goal difference than both. Obviously, then, this is a huge crunch match.
How to watch the 2026 Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is entering a new era with TNT Sports and HBO Max set to deliver a never-before-seen viewing experience, with every event from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games exclusively live across all HBO Max plans in the UK and Ireland.
Watch and stream every event from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games exclusively live across TNT Sports and all HBO Max plans in the UK and Ireland.
Good evening
Hello everyone and welcome to live text coverage of netball from the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Tonight, our focus is on the Group A clash between Australia and South Africa.
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The Commonwealth Games is entering a new era with TNT Sports and HBO Max set to deliver a never-before-seen viewing experience, with every event from Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games exclusively live across all HBO Max plans in the UK and Ireland.
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