Suzy Drane’s Welsh Netball team are in grave danger of missing out on a place in next year’s World Cup in Liverpool after losing their opening qualifying match against Scotland in Perth.
There are only two places available to the three nations taking part in the Netball Europe qualifying tournament and Wales’ 52-40 defeat to the host nation means skipper Drane and her team must now beat N.Ireland today (Saturday, 3.00pm) to stand any chance of going through.
The Scots dominated the final quarter to complete a major second half comeback that saw them dash Welsh hopes in a match that had been very close through the opening three quarters. Wales led 11-9 after the first quarter and 23-21 at half-time.
The Scots then hit back in the third quarter to lead 32-31 before dominating the final quarter 20-9 to win 52-40. Scotland are ranked two places below Wales in the current world netball rankings at 11th, while N.Ireland are one place above in eighth.
There was only one point between the two teams when Wales last met the Irish in Cardiff last year. Scotland meet N.Ireland in the final game on Sunday.