Vitality Roses Netball World Cup Live Blog - Day One

Day one of the Netball World Cup is finally here! All 16 teams get their campaigns underway including the Vitality Roses who will take on Barbados in their opening game of Pool B, live on Sky Sports Arena, Mix and YouTube at 7pm UK time.

Each day we will be running a live blog, keeping you up to date with what’s happening on game day for the Vitality Roses, including the build-up, all the action during the match and post-game thoughts from Jess Thirlby and the team. We will also keep across what’s happening elsewhere in our Pool as we set out on our Netball World Cup journey.

Keep up with all the action across the tournament using our handy match schedule and wall planner.

Google Ad Manager – MPU – In Article

If you want to see how some of the Netball Super League (NSL) players are getting on during the tournament, head over to the NSL website for daily updates.

Watch all of today’s games live on Sky Sports Arena including England vs. Barbados which will also be available on Sky Sports Mix and YouTube.


22:00

Elsewhere in England’s Pool, the Malawi Queens claimed a six-goal victory over the Scottish Thistles.


21:25

Funmi doing Funmi things.

A brilliant second half performance from World Cup debutant Funmi Fadoju sees her pick up Player of the Match.


21:15

High five if you made your Netball World Cup debut tonight!

Olivia Tchine and Laura Malcolm come on to make their World Cup debuts – Credit: Danny Dalton


21:00

Things you love to see.


20:35

England finish the final quarter strong as they tick over 20 goals for the fourth consecutive quarter as Olivia Tchine returns to combine with Eleanor Cardwell. This has been helped by the Roses speed in transition and successful building up, generating an impressive 88% from gains to goals.

Just before the buzzer, Layla Guscoth sends the ball long to Olivia Tchine who props the ball up to help England hit the 90-goal mark.

England 90-29 Barbados


20:30

Helen Housby rejoins Cardwell in the shooting circle and maintains her 100% record under the post.

England fans can be heard in the crowd signing ‘Netball’s coming home’. Amazing support from the travelling Roses supporters.

England 80-27 Barbados


20:25

Kadeen Corbin moves up to goal keeper for Barbados, moving from one end of the court to the other. Teammate Akeena Stoute goes down by the post but gets back on her feet to walk off to the sideline.

No changes from England at quarter time as the seven on court continue to press.

England 73-25 Barbados


20:15

As the third comes to a close, England are maintaining their speed moving through the court. Imogen Allison and Laura Malcolm are making it very difficult for the Bajan Gems to find the Corbin sisters quickly, forcing them to go long with Geva Mentor and Funmi Fadoju are mopping up the loose balls. Fran Williams and Layla Guscoth return to the defence as they help the Vitality Roses close out a commanding 23-4 quarter.

England 65-22 Barbados

Natalie Metcalf searching for Olivia Tchine – Credit: mbphotonz


20:10

Chelsea Pitman and Olivia Tchine are showing great chemistry, similar to what we’ve seen from them with London Pulse in the Netball Super League. They are soon joined by Cardwell who returns to the game in place of Metcalf and is commanding the circle. England are really motoring in this quarter, notching up 16 goals to the Bajan Gems’ two with five minutes left in the quarter.

England 58-20 Barbados


20:05

England come out for the second half with a rotated seven as Geva Mentor returns to the line up whilst Chelsea Pitman and Funmi Fadoju enter the game as new additions. Immediately, Fadoju, playing in her first World Cup makes an immediate rebound with an incredible leap into the air. Nat Metcalf joins Olivia Tchine in the shooting circle as a new combination is tested. England continue to find joy with the long balls as Imogen Allison and Laura Malcolm put pressure on the Bajan Gems to help the defence pick up lots of turnover ball.

England 51-19 Barbados


19:50

Layla Guscoth is taking charge in the Roses defensive end; she picks up another two intercepts in the closing stages of the quarter as Barbados step up the tempo through the Corbin sisters in attack. But at the other end of the court, England co-captain Nat Metcalf is orchestrating her side’s attacking play as she finishes the first half with 30 feeds to her name.

England 42-18 Barbados

Lauren Nicholls supporting her Loughborough Lightning teammate Fran Williams


19:45

Latonia Blackman, playing at her sixth World Cup for Barbados, takes the GS bib as Kadeen Corbin moves to GA to try and support her sister in the build up. Whilst England have eased off, they continue to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

England 32-13 Barbados


19:40

Olivia Tchine comes on for Eleanor Cardwell for her Netball World Cup debut and puts up her first goal within the first 10 seconds after the restart. The young shooter uses her impressive wingspan to collect some long balls as England try a different route to goal. A few minutes later Laura Malcolm enters the game for her first set of minutes at a World Cup alongside Fran Williams.

Sasha Corbin gets the crowd on their feet with a long looping feed into the shooting circle, finding her sister under the post.

England 29-12 Barbados

The Vitality Roses primed and ready for the start of the Netball World Cup


19:25

Despite a few loose balls into the shooting circle, England have found their groove, pulling away in the last five minutes of the quarter. In the defensive end, Layla Guscoth has picked off a rebound and forced an error in the circle from Kadeen Corbin. At the end of the first quarter, England lead by eight.

England 20-8 Barbados


19:20

After a steady start, the Vitality Roses are starting to find their rhythm through some expansive play, swinging the ball from side to side around the circle. Helen Housby has made a sharp start and is combining well with Metcalf to open up more space for her shooting partner, Cardwell.

England 12-6 Barbados


19:15

Netball World Cup debutant Eleanor Cardwell notches up the first goal for the Vitality Roses. Barbados force an early turnover but Imogen Allison, also making her World Cup debut, makes an immediate intercept. The Corbin sisters show great chemistry with their new international teammates and produce a well crafted move around the shooting circle to keep them in the touching distance.

England 4-3 Barbados


19:10

Jade Clarke gets us underway with the first centre pass!


19:05

Five minutes to go until we get underway.

Layla Guscoth will be the on-court captain. All of the Vitality Roses are wearing black armbands in memory of Head Coach Jess Thirlby’s father who recently passed away.


18:50

It’s almost time!

Watch the action live on Sky Sports Arena, Mix and YouTube


18:40

And here is the Barbados team.

GK – Faye Agard

GD – Akeena Stoute

WD – Tonisha Rock-Yaw

C – Teresa Howell

WA – Sasha Corbin

GA – Latonia Blackman

GS – Kadeen Corbin

Substitutes: Carla Boyce, Brianna Holder, Amanda Knight, Tamara Trotman, Damia Walrond


18:30

Here’s our starting seven for our opening game of the Netball World Cup!

Head Coach Jess Thirlby provides some thoughts on today’s selection.


18:00

One hour to go until the Vitality Roses start their Netball World Cup journey.

Not long to go until we see the starting seven, but who would you pick? Head over to the BBC Sport website to make your selection.


17:30

Former Roses, now Bajan Gems.

Kadeen and Sasha Corbin will come up against some of their former teammates for Barbados this evening.

Kadeen Corbin won gold with the Roses at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and between her and her sister, the pair made over 143 appearances for England.


17.00

Just a couple of hours to go!

Take a look at our game day preview to learn more about our recent meetings as well as a couple of familiar faces to look out for in the Bajan Gems squad!


16:15

Did you know that for every goal the Vitality Roses score during the Netball World Cup, a free sports bra will be pledged to the Roses’ first club.

England Netball and Nike unite during the Netball World Cup to support Breast Health Education


15:45

Where it all began.

Last night the Vitality Roses received their dresses for the tournament and were also presented with some kit from their first netball clubs.


15:00

The Opening Ceremony is underway! All of the teams have come into the Cape Town International Convention Centre as the hosts officially open the Netball World Cup.


14:30

Off The Court is back on Sky Sports YouTube! Each day, Caroline Barker and Eboni Usoro-Brown will be chatting to teams the Netball World Cup. Yesterday they caught up with Helen Housby and Eleanor Cardwell.


13:45

Check out the Pub Hubs that will be showing the Vitality Roses fixtures over the next 10 days!


13:30

A lot of work has gone into getting the squad ready for Cape Town.

Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby spoke to us yesterday about preparations, Preliminaries Stage One and what a game day looks like for coaches.


13:00

In a few hours’ time, we will bring you the starting seven.

For the first time at the Netball World Cup, we have three reserves (Hali Adio, Amy Carter and Sophie Drakeford-Lewis) who can remain with the team throughout the tournament, and in the event of a tournament-ending injury, illness or unforeseen personal circumstances, these players can act as a permanent replacement for the remainder of the tournament.

Take a look at the players who have been selected to represent the Vitality Roses.

Vitality Roses squad for Netball World Cup revealed


12:45

Here’s a reminder of who England will play in Preliminary Stage One.

Vitality Roses Preliminary Stage One Fixtures


12:30

The action is underway in Cape Town!

Eight teams have started their World Cup campaigns this morning including the reigning champions the New Zealand Silver Ferns, and the Commonwealth Games gold medallists’ the Australian Diamonds.

Here are the results from this morning’s sessions.

Tonga 56-51 Fiji 

New Zealand 76-27 Trinidad & Tobago

Australia 86-30 Zimbabwe

Uganda 79-37 Singapore

At 3pm the opening ceremony will take place before the next session gets underway at 5pm.


Keep up to date with what’s happening inside the England camp by following us on our socials @EnglandNetball.

Previous Story Game One Preview – England vs Barbados
Next Story Game Two Preview – England vs Malawi

You may also like...

Volunteers to be celebrated at National ONE Awards 2024

Volunteers to be celebrated at National ONE Awards 2024

12th Oct 2024
International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Inspiring Women in the British Army

International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Inspiring Women in the British Army

11th Oct 2024