By Martin Morgan

Last updated 16:21, Thursday, 13 November 2008

Copeland Wildcat Claire Hall says England’s World Cup women can raise their game one last time in tomorrow’s third-place play-off decider in Australia.

Amanda Donaldson

An England side including Hall and fellow Wildcat Amanda Donaldson went down 16-4 against current champs New Zealand in yesterday’s semi-final.

And Hall is confident they can shrug off the disappointment of failing to reach the final.

“It’s just about pride now,” the 20-year-old told News & Star Sport. “We have to show that while we’ve been beaten, we still have something to prove in the last game we will play.

“I’ve loved experiencing the World Cup, being part of it and watching all the other teams.

“There’s been a good atmosphere within the team, and if everything goes to plan, I’d like to be back in four years’ time.”

Assistant coach Neil Gregg said: “We need to pick ourselves up again and get that third spot. They are a very professional bunch and will get over the disappointment of losing the semi-final.

“At 10-4 we had still been in the game, but in the last 10 or 15 minutes their size and power told on us. We were playing in to a head-wind and they ground us down a bit.”

Claire continued: “I’m a bit disappointed as they were there for the taking. Half-time came too early, because when we came back out it didn’t happen.

“We were trying different things, and they weren’t going right. I’d expected New Zealand to be more physical.

“They were more graceful than Australia had been in our previous game – tough but fair.”

Prop-forward Amanda, 18, had been subjected to some tough tactics by the Aussies in their final pool game but gamely bounced back against the Kiwis just two days later.

“Against Australia I had an elbow put across my throat so I couldn’t breath, and they burst my nose,” she said.

“I’ve learned a lot during the World Cup and would love to play again for England.”