England 55-49 New Zealand: Roses lose the deciding match of the series

In a cautious first quarter, both teams struggled to retain the ball, but the Royal Team led 14-11.

The Silver Ferns quickly closed that gap in the second quarter as England were punished for carelessness and the errors began to pile up.

Head coach Jess Thirlby shuffled the attacking end to try and change the momentum, with Helen Housby replacing Olivia Cheney at goal as England lacked the effectiveness under the post that she showed in the second match.

But the hosts were unable to prevent New Zealand from turning the tables and taking a two-goal lead at the end of the first half.

England rallied after the break, much to the delight of their enthusiastic crowd, with London Pulse’s defensive duo Halimat Adeo and Funmi Fadogo working hard to win the ball back, and Housby and Lewis Pearson combining well in the shooting circle.

But the Roses let things slip away in the final minutes of the third quarter, as they lost their way and allowed New Zealand to take a 42-38 lead heading into the final period.

Fadogo collected a loose Silver Ferns pass early in the final quarter as England attempted to make up the deficit. But the hard defensive work was not always rewarded with goals at the other end as New Zealand extended their lead.

Shooter Grace Nowicki, who has enjoyed a productive series, was steady under the post while Maddie Gordon shined at center.

Thirlby made changes in attack but neither combination had the desired impact and the Roses were unable to close the gap.

They will face Jamaica in December before facing South Africa in January, as they continue their preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.