Monday 4 September 2017 11:47, UK
England suffered Quad Series defeat to South Africa allowing New Zealand to claim the title with victory over Australia on Sunday.
With both matches being played in Invercargill, Tracey Neville's Roses headed into the final round of games with a chance of the title having beaten New Zealand for only the fifth time in 88 matches on Wednesday.
But South Africa had other ideas and having given Australia a huge scare in midweek, they took out a hugely impressive 54-51 victory that meant the tournament came down to the final match of the series.
Australia would claim the title if they claimed a third win of the week or could limit defeat against the Kiwis to three goals or less, but the inexperienced New Zealand team produced their best performance to claim a 57-47 win and with it the Quad Series title.
England's defeat was all the more disappointing as having come close against Australia, they put everything together to beat New Zealand only to fall at the final hurdle. They will now face the champions in a three-match series for the Taini Jamison Trophy, starting on Thursday.
An impressive third quarter from South Africa proved decisive in a hotly contested and high-quality game that saw the Roses name the same seven players who started Wednesday's stunning 49-45 victory over the Silver Ferns.
It was goal for goal in the opening few minutes with the Roses patient in their build-up play and two quick-fire goals - one from Kadeen Corbin and one from Helen Housby - saw them take a 6-4 lead.
The Roses got into their stride midway through the first quarter and started to pull away but a blistering run from Lenize Potgieter at the end of the first half gave the Proteas a 13-11 lead.
Housby has been in terrific form in the series after a fine season for the NWS Swifts and her sharp-shooting took the Roses into a lead until the Proteas rallied and took advantage themselves only for England to level the scores with the teams locked at 26-all at the break.
Jo Harten returned to court at GS at the start of the third quarter but it was the Proteas who started better with Potgieter scoring three times without response to help her side establish a three-goal lead.
With the Roses on the back foot, Neville made a double defensive change - the experienced Jade Clarke came on at WD and Stacey Francis took the GD bib.
Once again the changes had their desired impact as the Roses fought back from a five-goal deficit with Harten capitalising on a couple of lucky breaks to narrow the gap to just two goals.
South Africa restored their five-goal margin and didn't look back, mixing quick transition play with an excellent defensive effort to maintain their advantage an it was fitting that Potgieter's goal with seconds remaining to seal the win.
Roses line-up - (GK) Mentor; (GD) Agbeze; (WD) Cobden; (C) Guthrie; (WA) Pitman; (GA) Housby; (GS) Corbin. Replacements: Beckford-Chambers; Cardwell; Clarke; Francis; Harten.
The Rose continue their international season with a three-match series against the Kiwis which you can see on Sky Sports, starting with Thursday's action on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Arena from 8.45am
