ENGLAND and South Africa have played out a thrilling draw at the Quad Series, with both sides finishing on 46 goals a piece.

In an at times brutal contest, the final scoreline was fitting as it was hard to split the sides all game.

The English were the first ones to build a lead, but the Proteas were certainly making the Roses work for every goal.

The English defence was holding up strong as well, with both Geva Mentor and Funmi Fadoju making it very difficult for the South African shooters to get the ball and convert.

The South Africans were really using the height of Lenize Potgieter to their advantage, while up the other end Sophie Drakeford-Lewis was really making the most of a rare start of court. 

As the quarter progressed, England maintained a lead but some bad passing from the Roses saw South Africa continue to eat away at the margin.

With two minutes to go in the quarter, the South Africans had levelled up proceedings and then taken the lead for themselves.

However the English kept pace with the Proteas and as the teams went into the first break, the margin was a single goal.

The South Africans maintained their lead through the early stages of the second quarter, but struggled to really extend it.

However their defensive pressure was really strong, with captain Bongiwe Msomi really leading from the front.

The frustration was seeping onto the faces of the Roses as South Africa maintained momentum.

However as the back half of the quarter came, England regained a little bit of momentum and drew level with South Africa again, before taking the lead itself.

However the South Africans were not going to go quietly, and so as the teams went into the main break the score was dead level and there was very little between the sides in the first half.

The game remained a tight affair to begin the second half, with neither side able to hold a lead of more than a couple of goals.

It was a tough, physical battle as evident by both Olivia Tchine and Phumza Maweni both got cautions.

South Africa crept ahead late in the quarter and as a reward took a three goal lead into the final change.

The Proteas maintained their lead for the front half of the final term, and were playing with a confidence they had not shown in the game against New Zealand the day prior.

But then as the quarter ticked down into its back half, England started to make a comeback.

With four minutes to go, scores were dead even and no one had a clue how the game was going to end.

Then with a minute left to go, things took a major turn when Maweni was sent off for persistent contact.

England capitalised by converting the goal and it looked like it was going to win, but Karla Pretorius had other ideas as she took a brilliant intercept up one end and her team converted into a goal down the other with a mere two seconds left to seal the draw.

SOUTH AFRICA  13 | 10 | 13 | 10 (46)
ENGLAND           12 | 11 | 10 | 13 (46)

Starting Sevens

South Africa

GS: Lenize Potgeiter

GA: Nichole Taljaard

WA: Izette Griesel

C: Bongiwe Msomi

WD: Shadine van der Merwe

GD: Karla Pretorius

GK: Phumza Maweni

England

GS: Helen Housby

GA: Sophie Drakeford-Lewis

WA: Natalie Metcalf

C: Imogen Allison

WD: Layla Guscoth

GD: Funmi Fadoju

GK: Geva Mentor