SALLY JUMP S AT SHO T FOR RELAY GOLD

ENGLAND are threatening to overhaul New Zealand as Australia’s biggest netball threat at the Commonwealth Games, but one of the Roses’ biggest stars has warned against writing off the Silver Ferns.

England achieved their best Quad Series result when they finished second in the latest instalment of the four- nation tournament last month. They shaded New Zealand 64- 57 in an extra- time thriller in London and lost 50- 46 to Australia there two days later.

A five- point final- round win over South Africa in Johannesburg ensured England finished above New Zealand in the series won by Australia.

New Zealand have been Australia’s closest rival but the Diamonds have won their last three contests by decisive margins of 12, 16 and 19 goals.

Australia have won 68 of 73 Tests against the Roses but in their last three meetings the Diamonds won two by four and the other by a single goal.

England may now be the biggest threat to Australia’s prospects of winning gold at a home Commonwealth Games.

“I guess it would be quite easy based on scorelines to suggest that,” England midcourt star Serena Guthrie said.

“But the thing about New Zealand is they always manage to get to a world champs final.”

Guthrie, who plays for the Giants in Super Netball, said the boost had been “massive”.

“When we met the Aussies in the last 2017 Quad Series, we had enough ball to win the game, the same happened with us this time,” Guthrie said. “So we’ll see what happens.” SALLY Pearson will happily race a second event at the Commonwealth Games if Australia fields a relay team on the Gold Coast.

Pearson said it would be a “thrill’’ to perform in front of a home crowd in a second event other than hurdles, in which she is bidding for a third successive Games gold.

“It would be fantastic,’’ Pearson said. “I haven’t done relays for a long time now. I think the last time we had a team was in 2011.

“There’s a lot of new girls. This time will be great; to get another chance to step out into the stadium in front of your home crowd is always a thrill. I’ll be looking forward to it if I get selected.’’

Pearson, who is self- coached, said she also planned to race in Sydney and Brisbane ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Pearson will travel to Monaco for the Laureus Awards, where she is up against the likes of tennis great Roger Federer for Comeback of the Year following her extraordinary world crown in 2017 after a severe injury.

“I think I’m going to feel a little bit starstruck when I walk into the room and see all these amazing athletes,’’ she said.

“I guess that’s exactly where I want to be and I want to be able to thrive off those people’s excitement and their abilities and their achievements and just sort use it as motivation to go into the Commonwealth Games and, obviously, the world indoors before that.’’

Pearson will contest the world indoors from March 1- 4 in the UK before returning home.