2025 CELTIC CUP: DAY FOUR RECAP
29th November 2025
Day Four at the Celtic Cup laid the foundation for an exciting final day with three more matches that have gone a long way in deciding who will be crowned the 2025 Champion.
Wales v Namibia
The Welsh Feathers kept their hopes of a repeat title alive when they defeated the Namibia Desert Jewels 67-39 in the first game at the Emirates Arena. Both teams traded goals in an even first quarter with Namibia energised by the inclusion of Monica Gomases and Loidy Kanyolo in their matchday squad. Zoe Mathewman got the start at GA for the Welsh and she opened up the space for her compatriot Georgia Rowe by sinking multiple shots from range. A tight and sometimes chaotic quarter finished 14-10 in favour of the Welsh side.
The second quarter featured a flurry of Feathers goals as they recorded the highest scoring quarter of the tournament with 26 goals on their way to a 40-19 half time lead. Rowe exerted her dominance offensively, often off the back of some excellent pressure on the Namibian shooters at the opposite end courtesy of player of the match Leah Middleton. Her timing was spot on and her ability to stay in play for large portions of the time made her dangerous.
The second half ebbed and flowed as both coaches made personnel changes to test different combinations, Yarranton entered at both WA and GA while Ellie Blackwell and Millie Carter both saw time at GD in place of starter Caris Morgan.
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Elisia Hambongo continued her stellar shooting for the Jewels, netting a team high 24 as they fought back in the final quarter, winning it 13-11 to take some momentum into tomorrow’s final match against Northern Ireland.
Shooting Stats:
Wales
Georgia Rowe 44/46, Zoe Matthewman 19/24, Phillipa Yarranton 2/2, Nansi Kuti 2/3.
Namibia
Uendjisuvera Kangumine 12/16, Elisia Hambongo 24/28, Loide Kanyolo 3/6.
Uganda vs Zimbabwe
The Uganda She Cranes continued their bid for the Cup when they recorded a stirring 67-54 victory over the Zimbabwe Gems in front of a small but vocal bunch of loyal supporters. The Gems went goal for goal with the Cranes in the early moments courtesy of Sharon Bwanali while at the other end the formidable presence of Mary Cholhok proved difficult to stop. A high scoring 19-14 quarter in favour of the She Cranes looked likely to continue through the second quarter and it was Uganda who did the bulk of the scoring as they unleashed a damaging 22-12 quarter that manufactured a 41-26 half time scoreline.
Into the third quarter the Gems tried desperately to get close enough to make a run at the She Cranes. Time and time again the Gems amazing GD Upenyu Kelly Muyambo gained clean intercepts but it wasn’t enough as Uganda maintained a comfortable 55-40 margin after three quarters.
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Through the fourth quarter the margin stretched to 18 as Uganda punished any Zimbabwe mistake with a conversion of their own. Margaret Baagala controlled proceedings at C for the She Cranes while Gloria Aya at GD was a disruptive influence throughout. Much to their credit, Zimbabwe pushed to the final whistle and chipped into the margin late, taking the final quarter 14-12. Shaffie Nalwanja was named player of the match for her brilliant work at WD.
Shooting Stats:
Uganda
Mary Cholhok 41/46, Shadia Nassanga 25/26, Specioza Namukosa 1/1.
Zimbabwe
Sharon Bwanali 36/38, Ursula Ndlovu 15/16, Nicole Muzanenhamo 3/3.
Northern Ireland vs Scotland
The Thistles locked horns in the evening matchup with their nearest neighbours, the Northern Ireland Warriors. A fast start was the formula off the disappointment of the thrilling 51-53 loss to Uganda the previous evening. A 7-2 lead was quickly arrested by the Warriors as both teams settled nicely into the match. Caroline O’Hanlon started at C for the Warriors, making her 130th appearance for her country. It was the Thistles who scratched out a four-goal lead for a 16-12 margin at the first break.
Neither side made changes for the beginning of the second quarter and the match was poised on a knife-edge, Hannah Grant put in a great shift at WD for the Thistles and it resulted in the first change for either side with Keenan and O’Hanlon switching patches for the Warriors. The Thistles forged a larger lead through accurate shooting from Cerys Cairns however some loose play invited Northern Ireland back into the contest and Orlaith Rogers at GS began to find her groove. The last few minutes of the quarter fell the way of Scotland and they took a 31-22 lead into the long break, winning the quarter 15-10.
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Evie Watts entered at WA for the Thistles while Michelle Magee (GK), Maria McCann (GD) formed a new defensive end for the Warriors. The Thistles were chasing a big win with the Celtic Cup title still a mathematical possibility. Bethan Goodwin made her 50th Thistle appearance at GS and the margin pushed out to 17 before Northern Ireland claimed a late goal and a 47-31outlook as the fourth quarter commenced.
Both teams swung the changes and it was the Warriors who controlled some early fourth quarter tempo. The re-introduction of Co-Captain Iona Christian provided stability and plenty of impetus for the final six minutes and the Thistles enjoyed a strong finish as they pulled further away late to record the 60-43 victory. Cerys Cairns was named player of the match for her performance at GA for the Thistles.
Shooting Stats:
Northern Ireland
Orlaith Rogers 29/35, Georgie McGrath 7/9, Emma Magee 3/4, Ciara Crosbie 4/5.
Scotland
Emma Barrie 24/25, Cerys Cairns 26/33, Bethan Goodwin 10/10.
