Potent strike force propels Duncanrig to Scottish title

Duncanrig captain Emma Hardie also played a vital role in the 48-40 victory that was watched by a bunch of enthusiastic supporters from both sides.

Emma, a talented centre who captained the National under-17 team, has just moved up to the Scottish under-21 squad and her experience shone through.

Duncanrig made a positive start and led 14-8 after the first quarter. As the nerves settled, Holy Cross reduced the deficit to 24-20 by half-time and, in the third quarter, the Hamilton girls managed to draw level at 27-all.

But Katie, a Scottish under-17 player, and Jacqueline, who is in the under-17 National development squad, hardly missed a shot at goal and the East Kilbride-based Duncanrig girls went into the final 15 minutes with a 34-31 lead and held on for victory.

The Duncanrig team is coached jointly by physical education teacher, Jennifer Neilson, and physics teacher, Carol Basu, and it was the schools’ first win since 2007. “We actually played and lost to Holy Cross in the first round pool matches and so we knew it was going to be very tough,” said Neilson, who has been at the school for four years.

“They are a great bunch of girls and it was a super win.”

For sixth-year pupil Emma, it was a perfect and emotional end to her school netball career and she refused to pick out any stars.

“I am so proud of the whole team,” said the 17-year-old, who is going on to study at the West of Scotland University in Paisley this autumn but has firm plans for her netball career.

“I definitely want to continue into the seniors and I’ll soon be trialing for the Scottish team for the World Youth Championships in Glasgow next year. That is going to be a huge event.”

In the younger finals, Hyndland Secondary triumphed in senior one, Arbroath High School in senior two and Peebles High School, with teams in three finals, came good against Hyndland in senior three.