England missed the chance to complete a clean sweep of their three-match series in New Zealand as they fell to a 61-56 defeat in Sunday’s final Test in Invercargill.

The Silver Ferns established a four-point lead by half-time and while the Roses pegged them back in the third quarter the hosts regained control in the closing stages.

Despite failing to win the final Test, England sealed a 2-1 win to claim the Taini Jamison Trophy, an annual series hosted by Netball New Zealand.

That followed a 2-1 series defeat in Australia and Roses captain Fran Williams said that their results and performances on the tour give them confidence for the future.

“It’s so special for us as a nation to be able to come here and win the series in the first two Tests,” said Williams, 26, who plays her club netball for West Coast Fever in Perth, Australia.

“That was something we were really looking to achieve and I am just so proud of how the girls have handled themselves across what has been a long tour for us.”

England had not previously won a Test series in New Zealand within the first two games.

Williams added: “It’s just a really exciting place to be in England netball right now and I just can’t wait to see where we are going to go.

“Confidence and belief are the key things, but you can’t just talk about that, you have got to show it on court, and I feel like that is what we have done through these matches.”

England return to action with back-to-back matches at home to Jamaica in Manchester on 16 and 17 November.