England’s Roses bounced back from their semi-defeat to New Zealand to claim the Vitality Netball World Cup bronze medal in a 58-42 victory against South Africa.
Following a heart-breaking 2-point loss to eventual World Cup champions the Silver Ferns in Saturday’s nail-biting semi-final encounter, England put their disappointment behind them to see off South Africa in style just 24 hours later.
The match represented Tracey Neville’s last game in charge as Head Coach of the Roses following last month’s announcement that she would be stepping down from her role at the end of the tournament.
Speaking following her side’s impressive win Neville told BBC Sport: "You talk about the journey and the rollercoasters - this tournament has surmised everything about this team."
"It was about finishing as the Roses because they know we'll never play together again as a squad.”
Having won last year’s Commonwealth Games final versus Australia by a single point, it was the turn of the Roses to experience a narrow loss when New Zealand crushed the home crowd’s hopes of seeing England reach their second successive major final by winning the semi-final tie 47-45.
But buoyed on by the deafening home support, Neville’s side ensured they wouldn’t leave Liverpool empty handed with a clinical display that South Africa’s Proteas had no answer for in the bronze medal play-off.
Leading 29-22 at half time, and with Helen Housby (10/10) and Jo Harten (5/5) scoring all 15 of their goal attempts, the unrelenting Roses attack continued to pile on the pressure throughout the second half, eventually opening up a 16-point lead at full-time.