England 'far off best' in loss to reigning champions Australia as Vitality Roses suffer first defeat of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

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England were handed their first netball defeat in Pool A at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as they were beaten 66-47 by defending champions Australia, who defeated the Vitality Roses in the semi-finals four years ago.

Highlights: Impressive Australia see off England

Video credit: TNT Sports

England lost 18-11 and 17-13 in the first two quarters before a 21-11 margin in the third asserted the Diamonds' clear superiority as they made it back-to-back wins with their quality continuing to improve at the Hydro in Glasgow.

With the game won for Australia, Eleanor Cardwell was brought on for England and her physical presence helped the Home Nations side win the last quarter 12-10, but overall it was a heavy 66-47 defeat.

”That's definitely not the result that we came for, but it’s also not the performance,” said England captain Fran Williams. ”We were just far off our best and we never really got momentum to get our teeth into the game, which is a shame.

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”It's really tough when a game blows out like that in the second half. You've got to make sure that you're still going after those small wins and little fights.

”That's why I'm so proud of the last 15 minutes in terms of getting a quarter win at the end when it was tough.

”We will focus on making sure that we're beating our next opposition and we'll deal with who we play when we play them.

Imogen Allison (L) of Team England battles for the ball with Liz Watson of Team Australia

Image credit: Getty Images

”It's great that we've had that exposure against a team that's probably setting the standard at the moment in the competition. We've got the learning from the experience so we can move on and go again tomorrow.”

England had won their first match of the Games 84-35 against Northern Ireland, with Cardwell impressing there too. Australia had defeated Tonga by a huge margin of their own, 99-38, but they will take confidence from a wide margin of victory over a capable England team.

Australia face Malawi on Tuesday in a game they are heavy favourites to win, while England face the same opponents on Monday. For England and Australia, their next serious test is likely to come up against South Africa.

The Diamonds face them on Wednesday, while England face them in their last game of the group on Thursday. That match is likely to decide if they reach the last four of the tournament. For the Roses, they will have found the defeat a chastening reminder of the quality they need if they want to bring home a medal this summer in Glasgow.

Full time - Australia 66-47 England

A few points rally the Roses as the world No. 1 team demonstrate their superiority. Once ahead, they simply did not let this slip.

Q4 - Australia 65-45 England

England are being told to take the learnings and action them from the commentary box.

Lessons are old hat. Now we have learnings.

Q4 - Australia 65-42 England

Australia are now ahead in the last quarter's score. Cardwell brings one back. Four minutes remaining.

Q4 - Australia 63-41 England

Australia are now edging away again as they take the lead to 22 points now.

Q4 - Australia 62-41 England

6-6 in the final quarter so far. Fewer than eight minutes remaining.

Q4 - Australia 60-41 England

Cardwell hits the deck but she's OK, and Klau gets a warning. Another of those, and she'll be off for two minutes.

Q4 - Australia 60-40 England

A moment for the court to get a polish. A great pass picks out Cardwell to take the difference down to 20 again.

Q4 - Australia 59-39 England

England have not let the game get away from them further.

Q4 - Australia 57-37 England

The margin is down by one. England are realising how far off the pace they are, and they still need to play South Africa.

Q4 - Australia 56-35 England

15 minutes remaining, and short of a ridiculous comeback, England are only playing for pride now.

Q3 - Australia 56-35 England

21 points for Australia. The final quarter is going to be a tough one after England lost that last one 21-11.

Q3 - Australia 54-35 England

Cardwell comes on as England look to finish strong ahead of the rest of the pool games. Cardwell is England's most capped player, so offers no little experience, and she scores early.

Q3 - Australia 51-34 England

Garrett is a more aggressive player so she could ramp up the pressure on the trailing side.

Q3 - Australia 46-32 England

Garrett comes on as the first Australian sub.

Q3 - Australia 44-32 England

There's a moment while part of the court is cleaned up, and England notch a couple of unanswered points.

Q3 - Australia 43-30 England

England are taking some real punishment now. It's a matter of holding on.

Q3 - Australia 36-25 England

No changes for Australia yet. Both sides score early in the third quarter.

Q2 - Australia 35-24 England

11 points the difference at the halfway point. England are struggling, while the Diamonds are comfortable.

Here's a clip from this morning's game:

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Q2 - Australia 31-23 England

England would want to be within five at half-time, which is a couple of minutes away.

Q2 - Australia 29-21 England

The Roses attempt to shave that deficit once more, but Australia approach the end of Q2 with a healthy lead.

Q2 - Australia 25-16 England

Nine points is the lead now. England's changes haven't changed enough.

Q2 - Australia 21-16 England

Tchine's height and skill make her a fantastic target, and she's keeping England in with a shout.

Q2 - Australia 19-15 England

The first points of the quarter for Australia from Austin. England need to repeat their opening dominance a few times if they are to stand a chance. Australia are sinking 90% of their efforts, England about 83%.

Q2 - Australia 18-13 England

Williams is off and Pechova is on as a new Goal Defence. A bright start for England as they add two points.

Q1 - Australia 18-11 England

Australia pull away again before the end of the quarter. We'll have the second quarter in a few moments.

The champions are ruthless under England's net and for defence, they are able to intercept so much more incisively.

Q1 - Australia 13-9 England

The Roses continue to keep in touching distance with the champions.

Q1 - Australia 11-7 England

Pearson - now as a GA - nails a shot to reduce the deficit. Australia are still comfortable but there's the hint of a comeback.

Q1 - Australia 10-4 England

Shaw is warming up for England, and Glasgow comes off. They need to stem the deficit.

Australia 7-3 England Q1

A three second call against England sees them start to fall away under pressure. This is now running away from England as Austin starts to dominate.

Australia 5-3 England Q1

Australia now edge into a two-point margin after England lose possession in the middle third.

Australia 2-2 England Q1

Australia score first but England remain in touch. Amy Carter is tracking back well.

Australia 0-0 England Q1

Australia start proceedings.

Australia's selection

Garbin, Watson, Austin, Moloney, Weston, Price, Bruce.

Austin is the danger for Australia, but in truth the danger is from everyone.

England team

Williams, Allison, Fadjou, Carter, Glasgow, Pearson, Tchine line up.

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Australian's netball squad

Kiera Austin (NSW)
Courtney Bruce (WA)
Sophie Dwyer (NSW)
Sophie Garbin (WA)
Matilda Garrett (VIC)
Georgie Horjus (SA)
Sarah Klau (SA)
Cara Koenen (QLD)
Kate Moloney (VIC)
Jamie-Lee Price (NSW)
Liz Watson (VIC)
Jo Weston (VIC)

England's netball squad

Defence:

Halimat Adio (28, London, London Pulse)

Francesca Williams (28, Reading, West Coast Fever)

Funmi Fadoju (23, Redbridge, London Pulse)

Jayda Pechová (21, Fleet, Nottingham Forest)

Midcourt:

Imo Allison (28, Huddersfield, Queensland Firebirds)

Jess Shaw (30, Stockport, Loughborough Lightning)

Amy Carter (27, Nottingham, AO Manchester Thunder)

Attack:

Sasha Glasgow (27, Moonta, Australia, West Coast Fever)

Liv Tchine (25, London, London Pulse)

Eleanor Cardwell (31, Blackpool, AO Manchester Thunder)

Lois Pearson (26, Bury, AO Manchester Thunder)

Ella Clark (34, London, Loughborough Lightning)

Yesterday's medal table

Scotland bag first win

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Yesterday's results in full

Here is where we stand after yesterday's play:

New Zealand 74-44 Scotland
Australia 99-38 Tonga
England 83-34 Northern Ireland
Wales 50-59 Uganda
Jamaica 81-22 Trinidad and Tobago
South Africa 65-44 Malawi

Wales v Scotland - LIVE

Our live coverage is here:

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What's in store today?

Today there will be more top sporting action in Glasgow.

Individual gymnastics champions will be crowned, while another huge night of swimming features distance races, sprint finals and Para medal events. Two massive netball clashes headline the day, with Wales currently tussling with Scotland.

Netball (09:00-12:30) – Wales face Scotland before England take on defending champions Australia in one of the standout group matches.

Artistic gymnastics (12:00-15:00, 18:00-21:00) – The men's and women's individual all-around champions are crowned.

Swimming and Para swimming (19:00-22:00) – Finals include the women's 1500m freestyle, men's 50m freestyle, men's 100m butterfly and S9 100m backstroke events.