Helen Housby keen not to repeat nerve-racking finish from 2018 Commonwealth Games

Helen Housby is in no hurry to repeat the last-gasp heroics that earned England a famous win over Australia in the Commonwealth Games netball final four years ago.

Housby’s winner with the last move of the match sparked jubilant scenes on the Gold Coast and led to a seismic shift in the perception of the sport in the UK.

But as England prepare to defend their title in Birmingham this month, the 27-year-old Housby admits she is yet to watch full footage of the final because of the memory of the immense tension involved in the occasion.

“I haven’t watched the whole game back because I find it gets too nerve-racking,” Housby told PA Media.

“The game was so stressful and tense. I don’t mind watching the last five minutes and some of the footage we’ve got from the changing rooms and the hotel are very special personal memories for all of us.

“But if it happened again, I would much rather cruise home by 15 points – if not for me, then for my mum and dad, and the coaches, and everyone’s parents and supporters in the stands.”

Housby’s winner ended years of close defeats to Australia and New Zealand in major competitions, and led to a crucial change in the mentality of a team that had lost semi-finals at all previous Commonwealth Games stretching back to 1998.

“England teams in the past have almost enjoyed being the underdogs, going under the radar and scrapping for what they can get,” added Housby.

“But we’ve got to be strong-minded and front up to the pressure and go out there on the front foot.

“So much of netball comes down to the mental side of the game. Even recently I think we’ve had squads that match up physically, but it was the mental battle we were losing. Sometimes you can go into those big games and you don’t