NATIONAL LEAGUE: ROUND THREE RECAP
23rd February 2026
Sunday saw more fast paced action in the National League, a first-time winner, a thrilling finish and a clear top dog.
Glasgow University 65 defeated Glasgow Saltires 39
Glasgow University recorded their first National League win with an impressive 65-39 win against Glasgow Saltires.
The home team began well, forcing the Saltires into early errors and they cashed in, sprinting out of the blocks to a 6-2 lead. Led by GA Orla O’Shea out front they moved the ball confidently down the court and enjoyed a well earned 14-12 quarter time lead.
The hosts looked to extend their lead early in the second term but the game settled into a much more even contest. Every time Saltires appeared to snatch the momentum, Glasgow started a run of their own and in fact finished the quarter on fire, reeling off the last four goals to extend their lead to 30-22 at the long break.
The third quarter was more of the same for Glasgow University, making Saltires pay in full for every mistake. They put the foot to the floor and led by 16 at three quarter time after a 15-7 term that was perhaps their best quarter of the season to date. Changes aplenty from both teams couldn’t thwart the hosts quest for their first win that has been coming fro some time.
With the result no longer in doubt, each team made a number of changes to test combinations as they look to round four which is only two weeks away.
Edinburgh University 40 drew Bellahouston Netball 40
A tight opening quarter in the second match of Round Three with two experienced teams in an arm wrestle early on with goals difficult to come by. Neither team exerted any dominance and the scoreboard reflected this. 12-11 after one and a classic encounter looked upon us.
The battle continued through quarters two and three with a margin either way never exceeding two goals. Edinburgh University rotated players through the mid court and towards three quarter time Bellahouston did the same as they switched Bec Metcalfe with Claire Maxwell at WD/C. This proved effective for Bellahouston as they eked out a 32-31 lead at the final break to set up a thrilling final fifteen minutes.
Edinburgh enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges to the final quarter and led by four in the blink of an eye. Bellahouston were determined not to let a chance go by to knock over the undefeated Edinburgh side and surged back to knot the scores at 39 with just two minutes remaining. A frantic final two minutes saw each team have their chance however the scores stayed level for the first draw of the 25/26 season.
Dunedin 61 defeated Scotstoun 22
A frantic start saw end to end action as both teams looked to play quickly from the get go. Each team lost a player early to injury and depth was being tested from there on. Dunedin were the first team to hit their stride fully and they finished the first quarter with a commanding 17-8 lead.
Dunedin were determined to go right on with the job and they continued their strong play with a 14-7 second quarter that set up their second win in three matches this season.
Scoring opportunities were hard to come by for Scotstoun as Dunedin increased their intensity in their defensive third. They got first hands to every loose ball and enjoyed another comfortable quarter notching this one 17-3.
Scotstoun kept fighting till the final whistle however the damage had been done and they will look to bounce back in Round four when they tackle Glasgow University.
Strathclyde University 58 defeated Edinburgh Access 48
Strathclyde remained unbeaten in 2025/26 after some clutch moments propelled them to a victory over Edinburgh Accies.
Strathclyde looked like putting this one to bed early when they exploded out of the blocks to lead 7-2 after just six minutes. The experienced heads in the Accies line didn’t panic and via Heather Marshall, Jo Pettit and Gemma Sole they fought back into the match and would have been well pleased to only trail 13-15 at the first break.
The second quarter saw some changes personnel wise; Emma Keith came in at GA for Strathclyde while Accies countered with Lauren Pollock at WA. Ebbs and flows for both teams with little change however on the scoreboard. Strathclyde with a 30-24 margin at the midway point.
Five of the first seven goals to begin the second half lifted Accies spirits quickly and the match was well and truly on a knife edge. Ruby Maclean operating at GK against her old team read the play superbly and regained the momentum for the students as they re-established their comfortable six goal margin at the mid point of the quarter. Both teams upped the ante in a high quality affair that went back and forth at a breakneck pace.
With the margin cut to three, Strathclyde responded again with Lexy Gillies and Fran Hall proving an impenetrable force through the defensive transverse line. A 46-37 lead at the last change and Strathclyde were well set to remain at the top of the league.
Despite the best efforts of Accies, they couldn’t cut into the margin enough in the final quarter to truly threaten. They will turn their attention to Bellahouston in round four while Strathclyde will face Saltires.
