U17s happy with display despite England loss

NETBALL: Scotland just missed out on second place behind all-conquering England at a very successful European Under-17 Championships at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.

In the sell-out opening match, England beat the hosts 67-25, then Scotland battled to a thrilling 35-32 win over Northern Ireland and the final match against Wales was an even closer 46-46 draw. However, Wales edged second place on goal difference after a 37-28 victory over Northern Ireland.

The championships were part of the preparation for the Under-21 World Championships to be held in Glasgow in August next year and coach Lesley MacDonald was delighted with her team.

“We stayed very close with England in the first quarter and that match was a great learning process,” said MacDonald.

“We used the lesson to grind out the matches against Northern Ireland and Wales.

“Nicola McLeary, our captain and goal attack, was outstanding. She read the play very well, scored a lot of goals and had a fantastic tournament. She’s already in the preliminary squad for the World Under-21 Championships.”

The Scottish Development also took part in the Championships, beating Switzerland and Gibraltar to earn a final day run out against Northern Ireland.

The event earned praise from the president of Swiss Netball, Cathryn Rich. “It is so much bigger than anything we have in Switzerland,” she said.

“Scotland is lucky to have so many willing volunteers and the fact that it was a sell-out and with lots of kids in the crowd was so good for the profile of the sport.”

The next set of trials for the Under-21 squad is at the end of May. Until then, the players will be concentrating on the Scottish Schools’ Cup and the Inter-District Championships.

Scottish Under-17 squad: Ashley Baillie, Caoimhe Rooney (both Holy Cross High School), Catriona Thomson (Hillhead High School), Katie Gallagher (Duncanrig Secondary School), Rachael Enynon (Perth Academy), Rebecca Munn (Notre Dame High School), Bethany Sutherland (Golspie High School), Jaimie Cooper (Kirkwall Grammar School), Nicola McCleary (Calderglen High School), Jo Pettit (Peebles High School), Amy Craig (Our Lady’s High School, Cumbernauld), Sara Bastekin (Hyndland Secondary School).

Development squad: Leigh Valentine (Cumbernauld High School), Jacqueline Murphy (Duncanrig Secondary School), Rosie Curley, Eilidh McCallum, Claire Tuohy (all Hyndland Secondary School), Courtney Marsden (Arbroath High School), Chloe McGarvey (Our Lady’s High School, Cumbernauld), Alicia Mathieson (Queen Anne High School), Abbie Buchan (Robert Gordon’s College), Gillian Campbell (Perth Grammar School), Sarah McPhail (Kirkwall Grammar School), Julia Fedo (Bell Baxter High School).