Scotland have crucial matches at next year’s Netball World Cup (Image credit: Ben Lumley)
European Netball World Cup qualifiers have reached a crucial stage with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all jostling for just two spots at next year’s World Cup.
A total of six teams are involved in the qualifying round robin – Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Gibraltar and Isle of Man.
Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland remain unbeaten before their games against each other.
All three teams are close in the netball world rankings, with Wales in eighth, Scotland in 10th and Northern Ireland in 12th.
Scotland prepare to face Northern Ireland on Friday evening before a meeting with Gibraltar on Saturday and a final clash against Wales on Sunday afternoon.
Wales and Northern Ireland meet on Saturday afternoon.
Netball World Cup European Qualifiers
| Wednesday | 2:30 p.m. | Wales 78-22 Isle of Man |
|---|---|---|
| 5 pm. | Gibraltar 19-68 Northern Ireland | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Scotland 87-17 Republic of Ireland | |
| Thursday | 12 o’clock | Wales 95-19 Gibraltar |
| 2:30 p.m. | Northern Ireland 59-24 Republic of Ireland | |
| 5 pm. | Isle of Man 20-82 Scotland | |
| Friday | 12 o’clock | Republic of Ireland 23-75 Wales |
| 2:30 p.m. | Isle of Man vs Gibraltar | |
| 5 pm. | Scotland v Northern Ireland | |
| Saturday | 12 o’clock | Republic of Ireland vs Wales |
| 2:30 p.m. | Gibraltar v Scotland | |
| 5 pm. | Wales v Northern Ireland | |
| Sunday | 10 am | Republic of Ireland vs Gibraltar |
| 12:30 p.m. | Northern Ireland vs Isle of Man | |
| 3 o’clock | Scotland v Wales |
Former Scotland international and manager Tamsin Greenway is delighted with the way his side have approached the game at their home ground in Glasgow.
“I think it’s really important to continue the momentum we felt at the Commonwealth Games, we added some good things we were doing and fixed some things we weren’t happy with,” Greenway said. . .
“This is a crucial moment now, the players have worked hard to get to this position and they are ready for it.”
Scotland travel to home ground for the qualifiers (Image credit: Ben Lumley)
Scotland’s highly experienced captain Claire Maxwell also believes her team is ready for what lies ahead on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“Once we get to the caucus, we have to make sure we’ve done all the hard work and it’s about enjoying the moment and taking the pressure off ourselves because that’s when we play our best.”
Sarah Moore’s Welsh Feathers team is led by co-captains Susie Drenn and Nia Jones, with Bethan Dyke, Ella Powell-Davies and Claire Jones taking on all the vice-captain roles.
Northern Ireland’s Fionnuala Toner and Olivia Macdonald led the team with player of the match performances. Her team-mate Ciara Crosby is hoping for a strong match against Scotland on Friday.
“It’s a grudge match, a Celtic clash as always. It will be in front of a Scottish audience so it will be a great game,” Crosby said.
“We played them recently at Commonwealth. We know how to deal with them. It will be a close encounter, but if we play our own game … I think we can do it.
This is the fourth of five qualifiers for the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa. Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers will be the final match starting on October 16 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Tv fanatic. Amateur food maven. Devoted webaholic. Travel lover. Entrepreneur. Evil writer. Beer guru.
