England Roses beat New Zealand at Commonwealth Games

England beat New Zealand for the first time in Commonwealth Games history on Wednesday and will face Jamaica in the semi-finals.

Tracey Neville's team are bidding to better their best ever showing at the Commonwealths - a bronze medal won in 2010, 2006 and 1998.

The Roses will now face the runner-up from Pool A, Jamaica, who were beaten by hosts and defending champions Australia in the final match of the group stages.

After a week of competition, the pool matches were completed on Wednesday on the Gold Coast and it is Neville's England and the Aussie Diamonds who have maintained a perfect record of five wins from their five games to reach the last four.

Despite their defeat to the Roses, two-time gold medalists New Zealand are through to Saturday's semi-finals on points difference, edging out Uganda and Malawi who both recorded three wins. New Zealand will now face a blockbuster encounter against Australia - a repeat of all five previous Commonwealth Games finals.

Commonwealth Games - Semi-Finals Saturday from 6am

Australia v New Zealand

England v Jamaica

England's semi-final against Jamaica is a repeat of the bronze medal match won by the Sunshine Girls in Glasgow four years ago but this year means that one of the two nations will reach a first Commonwealth final.

Also on Wednesday, there was a second win of the Games for Northern Ireland, who beat Fiji to finish fourth in Pool A and will face Malawi in the seventh place match.

Scotland and Wales were both beaten in their final pool matches; the Thistles will now meet Barbados as they look to take ninth place while winless Wales will face Fiji, who also ended the group stage without a win, as they aim to avoid finishing is last place.

As for the Roses triumph, it proved to be a thrilling start to the day's action. New Zealand led after 14 minutes but Helen Housby twice scored to bring England level. Despite an impressive showing from Maria Folau, the Roses stood firm in a thrilling first half to lead by two goals at the interval.

Returning from the break with a 26-24 advantage, Neville introduced Eboni Beckford Chambers and Jade Clarke and the pair proved hugely influential as the Roses stretched their lead to five goals.

A dogged New Zealand refused to buckle and it needed a Jo Harten brace to help England extend their lead to six goals heading into the final 15 minutes.

Maria Folau and Te Paea Selby-Rickit drew the Silver Ferns to within three with seven minutes remaining but the Roses powered home down the stretch to complete a famous and memorable win - their biggest ever over New Zealand.

England starting seven: GK - Mentor; GD - Agbeze; WD - Cobden; C - Guthrie; WA - Pitman; GA - Housby; GS - Harten.

Replacements: Haythornthwaite, Clarke, Gibson, K Corbin, Beckford-Chambers.