England netballer Eleanor Cardwell insists there is still “so much juice left in the tank” to fight for Commonwealth Games bronze after missing out on a place in the final with defeat by New Zealand.
The Roses will play Australia in Sunday’s bronze-medal match (09:00 BST) in Glasgow after losing their semi-final 61-54 to a powerful Silver Ferns side.
Jamaica stunned world champions Australia with a seismic 46-45 victory in the other semi-final, as the Diamonds failed to make the final for the first time in the history of the Games.
Speaking to BBC Sport after missing out on the gold-medal match, England goal shooter Cardwell said: “It is really, really frustrating.
“I think there are some good things in [Saturday’s performance]. We did have a fightback. There has been times when we’ve just let it get to us and the score get away. I am proud of the fightback, not proud of the score obviously.
“We all have so much love for each other that we know we can go out there on court and perform. There is so much juice in this tank, it’s unbelievable. I’m ready to get that bronze medal.”
New Zealand passed the ball with great speed and accuracy early on, but England rallied to settle their nerves, with goal shooter Liv Tchine drawing the match level at 3-3.
But the prowess of the Silver Ferns and their height advantage through shooter Grace Nweke was too strong as they hit double figures with eight minutes played and held a 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter at the Hydro.
Bringing on Cardwell in place of Tchine towards the end of that quarter gave the Roses a lift, as they upped their intensity in the second period to close the deficit to 25-21.
After scoring 23 goals from 23 shots, Nweke missed just before half-time to leave New Zealand leading 29-24, with hope remaining for a comeback for Anna Stembridge’s side.
