Proud Wales Earn Another Dramatic World Youth Cup Win

Wales 44, Trinidad & Tobago 43

Welsh pride shone through on another dramatic and successful day at the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana.

Wales put the emotion of their 47-44 win against Barbados on Friday to one side and produced another team performance full of heart, spirit and composure.

They kept their nerve in what was the final challenge for Wales at the tournament, a play-off clash with a T&T team who had beaten them by four goals in the group stages.

Head coach Natalie Peperell and her players won three of their last four matches in Botswana to earn 13th place, one ahead of  Trinidad and Tobago.

It was a fiercely contested match and Wales were trailing at half-time, but they worked together, produced outstanding moments, and battled back to win.

Spectators described the final quarter drama as ‘heartstopping’ and Peperell’s players gave their all.

The teams were locked at 10-10 after the first quarter, but then T&T edged ahead, winning the second 15-10.

Wales had to react if they were to stay in the match and they scored 15 goals to Trinidad’s five in the third.

That set up a final 15 minutes when both teams were under pressure. T&T hit back, but Wales held on and celebrated after earning a 44-43 victory.

Wales U21 squad: Chloe James (capt), Rebecca Baker, Fern Davies, Isabelle Dunsford, Chloe Dyke, Celyn Emanuel, Georgia Jenkins, Bethan Johnson, Sarah Llewelyn, Megan Powell, Leila Thomas, Miquie Walker-Jones.

Wales under-21 management: Head Coach, Natalie Peperell; Assistant Coach, Jamilla Abbott; Team Manager, Lavinia Baker.

Wales results at NWYC: England 69, Wales 23; Wales 35, Fiji 48; Grenada 72, Wales 30; Wales 32, Trinidad & Tobago 36; Botswana 51, Wales 39; Wales 47, Barbados 44; Wales 44, T&T 43.