Commonwealth Games: Scots lose feisty netball tie

SCOTLAND lost 37-32 to Northern Ireland in their final Pool A match. Gail Parata’s side were ahead at every quarter until the last, as the opposition took advantage of the Scots’ nerves.

Scotland lost their netball tie against Northern Ireland today. Picture: Lorraine Hill

It looked as if the Northern Irish had a point to prove, considering Scotland beat them to a qualifying spot for the 2015 World Cup.

Captain Lesley Macdonald said: “We came out firing and know each other really so I think we cancelled each other out at different points of the match.”

The game was certainly feisty and aggressive – even the squeaking of the player’s trainers on the court sounded angry. One of Northern Ireland’s defenders crashed into a billboard, simply trying to stop a Scottish player receiving the ball.

As the match went on it remained extremely close; at times only two points separated the teams. With four minutes left on the clock, the Scottish Thistles started to have more shots but couldn’t convert and it was the Northern Irish who clinched fourth place in Pool A. Head coach Gail Parata said: “We lacked composure and discipline at times but I know they gave everything they had.”

Scotland will play Trinidad & Tobago in their classification match for ninth place.

SEE ALSO

• Follow the Commonwealth Games day-by-day with our live blog

• The Scotsman Commonwealth Games live discussions

• Medal table: What medals have Team Scotland won?

• Scotsman Commonwealth Games live discussions

• Commonwealth Games live blog: day three

• Commonwealth Games live blog: day two

• Commonwealth Games live blog: day one

• Commonwealth Games live blog: opening ceremony