Commonwealth Games: England open title defence with victory over Trinidad & Tobago
The outfit won 74-22 at the NEC Arena in Birmingham; England return to court on Saturday for their second group match against Malawi; head coach Jess Thirlby was able to give court time to all 12 players and they shook off early nerves to produce a record score against their opponents
Friday 29 July 2022 14:14, UK
England opened the defence of their Commonwealth Games title with a 74-22 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in Birmingham.
Despite the impressive scoreline, the reigning champions showed early nerves and worked their way through a lower shooting percentage than they would have liked during the first half.
The potent defensive work of Layla Guscoth and Geva Mentor helped to counter those errors though, and produce a 37-9 half-time lead.
Head coach Jess Thirlby made changes throughout the second half, with Eleanor Cardwell providing impact in the shooting circle and strong Games debuts being made by Imogen Allison and Sophie Drakeford-Lewis.
The outfit now have a quick turnaround before they take on Malawi in the second group match on Saturday lunchtime.
England's head coach Thirlby is one of seven coaches to have played at the Commonwealth Games as well as being a coach at one. Indeed, so many members of England's coaching team have first-hand playing experience at the competition.
As a result, they knew Trinidad and Tobago would threaten early but potentially not have energy to maintain their form.
This information steered England's selection decisions with captain Nat Metcalf positioned in front of Helen Housby and Jo Harten, while Mentor, Guscoth and Clarke formed a formidable defensive unit.
Laura Malcolm was handed the centre bib, a bib that previously would have belonged to the now retired Serena Kersten (nee Guthrie).
On their home court, a few nerves littered England's opening quarter and half. Feeds into the circle didn't quite stick and the experienced duo of Harten and Housby had a shooting percentage in the 70s during the second quarter.
However, at the other end of the court, Guscoth's Commonwealth Games debut was flawless. She showed why so many believe she's the best goal defence in world netball and Geva Mentor marked her sixth Games by picking up where she left off in Australia.
Guscoth and Mentor picked off rebound after rebound and secured numerous interceptions to give England the volume of goal-scoring opportunities they needed to create a solid lead.
An opening 15-6 quarter was bettered during the second set of 15 minutes, as Thirlby left her starting line-up up out there to settle.
The outfit kept an ever-changing Trinidad & Tobago seven to just three goals and scored 22 of their own, as Harten and Housby were found well by Metcalf.
With a 37-9 lead at half-time, England's squad depth really shone through during the second 30 minutes.
Stacey Francis-Bayman, Guscoth and Eboni Usoro-Brown renewed their familiar and impressive defensive line-up and the whole team upped their defensive pressure.
It took Trinidad & Tobago 11 minutes to score their first goal of the second half, while England scored freely through Cardwell's impressive arrival in the circle.
At WA and then GA, Sophie Drakeford-Lewis displayed her trademark pace and tempo, with Imogen Allison also making her Games debut.
In contrast to England's opening moments, their second 30 minutes was slick and purposeful, and Thirlby's squad rotation will ensure that bodies will remain fresh ahead of the second group match on Saturday lunchtime.
