England lost their second match in the 2025 Vitality Netball Nations Cup as South Africa eventually emerged with a 61-59 victory.
After a bright start from South Africa, the Vitality Roses battled back to level the score 14-14 after the first quarter.
They went goal for goal in the second quarter too, tied 30-30 at the half-time mark.
There was still nothing to separate the two sides going into the final quarter. The teams remained in lockstep at 46-46 with the last 15 minutes left.
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Highlights from the Vitality Netball Nations Cup between Vitality Roses and South Africa
South Africa then pulled away in the final quarter. England chipped into their lead with a finishing flurry but South Africa had pushed far enough ahead to prevail 61-59 in Nottingham.
Sanmarie Visser was the Vitality Player of the Match. She said: “It means so much. We knew what we were going to be up against when we came here. We had a good gameplan. It means so much for us to come here and beat England on their home ground.
“[Next week] we can even do better. Come back and level up again.”
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England head coach Jess Thirlby was pleased with her team’s performance in their loss to South Africa in the Vitality Netball Nations Cup
Next week the Vitality Netball Nations Cup comes to the Copper Box Arena in London, with Malawi playing South Africa at 3pm on February 8 and England vs Uganda following that at 5pm.
