England Netball secured a spectacular 81-30 victory over Jamaica at London’s Copper Box Arena on Sunday, completing a 2-0 series triumph in the 2025 Horizon Series. The Roses, led by head coach Jess Thirlby, followed up Saturday’s 80-37 win with a comprehensive performance, putting up a ruthless play on court.
Like in the opening match, England established the lead early on, opening up a 23-point advantage by half-time. They cemented their dominance in the second half, adding a score of 43 points, overwhelming the Jamaican team, who were hindered by injuries and disrupted training schedules. Helen Housby established herself as a standout performer, with a clinical execution as a goal attack that earned her the Player of the Series.
Jess Thirlby, speaking to BBC Sport, shared that the team holds a great deal of respect for Jamaica, commenting that “Jamaica will be stronger again.”
The 2025 Horizon Series was originally set to feature four fixtures, with two being hosted in Jamaica and two in England. However, due to the aftermath of Hurricane Mellissa, the matches in Kingston were cancelled. Members of the Jamaican team contributed to relief efforts, distributing care packages to affected communities. The team’s inability to train together in full makes their performance in London even more commendable.
In recognition of the hurricane relief, England Netball announced that £1 from every Horizon series ticket will be donated to Netball Jamaica’s chosen charity, World Central Kitchen. Fans also had the opportunity to contribute to the British Red Cross’s disaster fund, in a display of solidarity between the two nations during challenging times.
While the results were one-sided, the Horizon series remains a critical platform for preparation ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in Glasgow. Thirlby highlighted the importance of competitive game time, saying, “We really respect any Jamaican side, and I hope their players who were taken off the court injured are OK. I just want to thank them for an incredible effort to get over here and see another Horizon Series.”
The Roses’ performances displayed both emerging talent and experienced players returning to form. Saturday’s match also saw captain Fran Williams named as Player of the Match following her commanding show of leadership. Meanwhile, Eleanor Cardwell made a recovery from a serious knee injury, and Natalie Metcalf made her inspiring return to the court after the birth of her child 7 months ago. Cardwell commented on her recovery, stating, “There has been a lot of crying this year. I didn’t realise that I had this much mental toughness, so it’s been hard, but I have learnt so much, and I think it’s going to make me a better netballer.
The England captain, Francesca Williams, maintained that the team’s effort remained focused despite the circumstances surrounding the series, firmly stating that they were not holding back and always put out the best performance possible to help the team win. She also stated, “That’s showing the other team the most respect, playing to your best ability.”
While the scores of the series landed heavily in favour of England, both teams acknowledged the underlying purpose of the match, with Jamaica getting the opportunity to compete at the highest level and England defending their reputation as dominant figures in international netball.
