England’s Roses held firm in a testing encounter against Malawi to win 62-39 and go top of their group at the World Cup in Cape Town.
Ranked sixth in the world, Malawi were always going to be the greatest challenge the Roses would face in the tournament’s preliminary pool stage, and accordingly, the Queens came out firing in the first quarter.
The game’s opening passages started off goal-for-goal until the Malawians were able to capitalise on an early England error to inch ahead. Intercepts from Natalie Metcalf and Imogen Allison allowed the Roses to wrest back the lead but, with New Zealand-based shooter Joyce Mvula masterfully conducting the Queens’ attacking end, opportunities to extend the score difference were few. The ball speed generated by Malawi proved particularly challenging for England’s defenders, forcing them to settle for a 12-10 opening statement.
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
Sensing the need for more presence in the defending end England’s head coach, Jess Thirlby, deployed 38-year-old Geva Mentor at goal keeper – like taking a vintage car out of the garage to impress your neighbours. The veteran, playing in her sixth World Cup, had an immediate impact, freeing England’s other defenders to get to work building the lead.
The intensity that had defined the first quarter doubled in the second with the physicality on both sides ramping to fever pitch. Multiple bodies hit the deck during the 15 minutes with some, including Funmi Fadoju, having to return gingerly to the bench to recuperate from their knocks. The Roses, however, continued to feed their lead via shooters Helen Housby and Eleanor Cardwell, who hummed along nicely to reward the work done down the other end.
Returning from the locker room 29-20 up, England took advantage of the decision by Malawi to start Mvula on the bench, putting down a punishing string of eight unanswered goals. When eventually re-entered, the Queens had more in the way of response and didn’t stop asking questions of England. Errors, coming particularly out of the Roses’ mid-court, at times hinted towards a disjointedness that teams higher up the ladder would surely pounce upon.
The slickest combination of the several Thirlby tried and tested during the game, once the scoreline cushion was secured, came from London Pulse teammates Chelsea Pitman and Olivia Tchine, who played together in the final quarter. But there was no moment of let-up from Malawi. Buoyed by a pocket of fervent fans singing throughout the game, they continued to press until the game’s dying minute.
Speaking post-match, Thirlby was relatively upbeat about England’s performance, saying some credit should be due for the “23-goal win against what is our toughest opponent in this group”.
The head coach also conceded that connecting the mid-court to the shooting circle had been an issue for the side but insisted she wasn’t worried. “I think we just had a few really basic errors on ball placement,” she said. “I think there were a few rushes of blood to the head early; too many in that opening quarter.
“Malawi did a good job of forcing us wide a little bit around the circle edge and then we weren’t necessarily on the front as quickly as we wanted to be. It’s ball placement. We won’t get away with that deeper in the tournament but I don’t also think it’s time to panic.”
England were not the only team challenged by an African nation on day two, with defending champions New Zealand pushed all the way in their 54-44 win over Uganda.
