Roses force decider as Silver Ferns brace for high stakes finale in Manchester

The Vitality Netball International Series will come down to a winner-takes-all showdown in Manchester on Thursday morning, after the English Roses hit back with a composed 61-58 victory to level the three-test series.

The series has lived up to its expectations so far, with the Silver Ferns taking the opener 61–58 before England returned the favour less than 24 hours later. Now, with next year’s Commonwealth Games looming, both sides face their biggest outing of the international season.

England's star shooter, Helen Housby, delivered a masterclass in the second test, guiding the Roses through the clutch moments and earning Player of the Match honours.

“That was incredible, so so special,” Housby said. "I think we showed a lot of discipline... we kept the scoreboard ticking over and showed a lot of maturity.”

Down two at halftime, Housby said coach Jess Thirlby’s message was simple.

The Roses now head to Housby’s home court in Manchester with momentum and emotion on their side.

“To be honest I just can’t wait to play in Manchester again, it’s where I started my netball,” she says.

“We kind of felt like today was our final... now it’s about backing it up.

"Both teams are gonna come out and want that win. It means a lot before the Comm Games next year.”

Silver Ferns interim coach, Yvette McCausland-Durie said her side created enough opportunities to win the second test but fell short in the moments that mattered.

“Yeah it was really tight, wasn’t it? Another really quality match and it came down to small margins,” she said.

“It was momentum along with just taking care of the ball - and we were guilty of not doing that so well. England shot really well... they can shoot from range and we really struggled to get the ball off them. When we made an error, they made us pay for it.”

Despite another standout shift from Grace Nweke with 51 out of 51 goals, and a strong performance from Maddy Gordon, the Ferns’ discipline waned in the second half.

“The energy was there but it was just the accuracy and the clinical-ness that was required,” McCausland-Durie said. 

Both tests have mirrored each other - tight margins, late swings, and pressure moments defining the outcome.

In the first test, the Silver Ferns showed superior composure down the stretch, with Kate Heffernan and Kelly Jackson disrupting England’s flow while Nweke dominated the shooting circle.

In the second, England’s defensive pressure flipped the script, and the Roses’ shooting duo of Housby and 24-year-old Olivia Tchine proved impossible to disrupt in the final minutes.

The Ferns have made clear improvements in their through-court play, but England’s ability to force long feeds and punish turnovers remains a major threat heading into the decider.

With the series tied 1-1, momentum swinging back and forth, and a home game at Manchester adding an emotional edge for the Roses, Thursday’s decider shapes as the biggest test yet for the Silver Ferns, who are wrapping up a disruptive international year. 

Both teams are chasing not just a series win - but a statement eight months out from the Commonwealth Games.

The series decider will begin at 8am NZT on Thursday.