Our Teams Had a Braw Time at the RecNet Festival Last Month!

Thanks to our fantastic sponsor, Braw Bar, players stayed fuelled and energised throughout the weekend.

Day 1 Highlights:

Peffermill Playing Courts buzzed with excitement as 12 teams came together for a full day of RecNet action.

• Porty Belles – Edinburgh
• Williamwood Warriors
• Supernovas – Perth & Kinross
• EDNC (East Dunbartonshire Netball Club)
• Seven Lochs – North Lanarkshire
• The Jets – Dunblane
• Mac Netball – South Ayrshire
• Levenmouth Thunder – East Fife
• Winchburgh Warriors – West Lothain
• High Hoops – Edinburgh
• RecNet Dundee – Dundee
• Ignite – Falkirk

The games were not just fun but mixed with the perfect amount of competitive spice! Orchestrated by Correen Davies and supported by a team of volunteers, the festival was both lively and well-organised.

Alongside great netball, participants enjoyed local treats like pizza, courtesy of Outta Space Pizza and coffee from Ramm’s Roast, plus much-needed sports massages from A Star Fitness.

Correen Davies Reflects:

” This year’s turnout and energy were incredible. Seeing new faces and returning players alike embrace the festival with such enthusiasm was fantastic, it’s a joy to watch everyone come together under the banner of sport.”

Day 2 Breakdown:

The momentum continued with Sunday’s men’s and mixed netball competition.

• • • • Caledonian Condors
      • Stewarty
  • • • Kirkcaldly Lions
      • Kirkcaldly Wildcats
      • Komets Red
      • Komets Black

  Six teams participated showcasing the fast-growing interest in netball among men and boys in Scotland. This day highlighted dynamic plays and showcased the expanding inclusivity of the sport.

  

  

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Karen Atkinson to join the board of Netball Scotland, with Ken Hay confirmed as CEO

Following a global search, the board of Netball Scotland is delighted to announce that Kath Tetley has been appointed as the Thistles’ new Head Coach to lead them to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.

Kath brings a wealth of senior-level coaching and leadership experience working in the Australian Super Netball competition and Netball NSW Premier League.

She is currently the Executive General Manager of Super Netball Club the NSW Swifts and has been a successful Head Coach of GWS Fury in the NSW Premier League, the State’s highest-level pathway competition which has produced a host of Australian internationals.

She was also part of the underage NSW State Team program which won gold at the Australian Netball Championships in 2022.

In addition to her Head Coach responsibilities, Kath will also serve as Performance Director for Netball Scotland.

Kath will be joining Netball Scotland in September following the end of the Australian Super Netball season.

Kath has Scottish heritage and in 2022 was quoted saying that coaching the Thistles would be a dream coaching role and something to which she aspires. Netball Scotland is delighted to be making Kath’s dream come true.

In parallel to Kath starting, Karen Atkinson MBE, former Performance Director for Netball Scotland, will be joining the board of Netball Scotland with specific responsibility for Performance, taking on that responsibility when Cat Semple concludes her term on the board at the AGM in September.

The board of Netball Scotland has also confirmed Ken Hay as the new permanent CEO of the organisation following his initial 6 months as Interim CEO.

Lucy Faulkner, Chair of Netball Scotland:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Kath will be joining Netball Scotland as the new Head Coach. Her appointment completes the restructuring of the senior team over the last 12 months, with Carol Harvey joining as Director of Development, Karen Dunn becoming Director of Finance and Operations, and Ken Hay being confirmed as permanent Chief Executive.

“Together with a refreshed board including Karen Atkinson agreeing to join, we are now looking forward to the next chapter of Netball Scotland and netball in Scotland with optimism and excitement.”

Kath Tetley:
“I’m truly honoured to have been appointed as the new Head Coach of the Thistles. I’m so ambitious for netball in Scotland and for the Thistles at all levels, and am really looking forward to working with all the coaches and players in driving the team towards the Netball World Cup in 2027.

“It’s a dream come true for me to be reconnecting with my Scottish roots and I can’t wait to join the team, in person, in September.”

Ken Hay, CEO of Netball Scotland:
“Kath’s passion, experience and maturity all shone through during the selection process. But it was her vision for the future of the Thistles and how Scotland can develop as a netball playing and netball loving nation which set her apart. Her commitment to the role and to Scotland will see her and her husband relocate to Scotland in the autumn, and I can’t wait for her to join the Netball Scotland team.”

Karen Atkinson MBE, former Performance Director with Netball Scotland:
“I am extremely excited about Kath’s appointment. She is an impressive individual with such depth of experience. She’s exactly what the Thistles need at this time and will create a fantastic high-performance programme and environment for the athletes in Scotland. I’m also pleased to be joining the board of Netball Scotland, to work alongside Kath and the rest of performance team, and continue to support them into this new cycle”.

ALL ENQUIRIES TO: ceo@netballscotland.com

Netball Scotland today announced Tamsin Greenway will be stepping down as the Head Coach of the Scottish Thistles. Despite her fantastic leadership since February 2020, which began amid global challenges, Tamsin has chosen to step down due to reasons beyond her control.

In a heartfelt message, Tamsin expressed, “I am absolutely gutted to be leaving my role as head coach of Scotland, it was a really difficult decision and not one that was taken lightly. Sadly, for reasons out of my control, it was one that I had to do.”

“Although I feel like there is a lot of unfinished business, I am actually very excited about what this group can do next. I am so proud of what we have achieved in such a short period of time, I think it shows the incredible athletes and young women I have been working with.”

“So although I am gutted I won’t get to carry on with my journey with them, I really believe their next chapter is going to be huge and I’m proud to have played a small part of it.”

Taken during the Netball World Cup Qualifiers at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland 2022.

Praising the Netball Scotland organisation, she continued, “ I have absolutely loved my time up in Scotland, I have fallen in love with the country. I think the organisation as a whole have been so open minded in terms of how they have adapted and changed and always been able to think outside the box, I think that is what attracted me to the role in the first place.”

“Claire Nelson was instrumental in getting me into the role and Karen Atkinson has just been incredible to work for and with, full credit to what both of those ladies have done changing the game up in Scotland.”

“The talent we have seen, and not just talking about the players that have come through into the senior squad but also through the age groups. I mean the pathway is something I am so proud to have had just a little bit of an impact on.”

“The likes of Lesley MacDonald, Rachel Cremin, Hayley MacKellar and all the coaches that have worked with those players and the effort they have put in has been huge and we have seen so many fundamental changes that are going to make such an impact on the future of our Thistles programme.”

© Craig Watson

Karen Atkinson, Netball Scotland Performance Director, shared her sentiments: “The impact that Tamsin has had on the Scottish Thistles, our Pathway, and Netball in Scotland is immeasurable. Her influence extends beyond the court through her exceptional knowledge and her ability to set new benchmarks. We feel very fortunate to have had her at the helm for the past cycle and wish her every success in her future endeavours. We’re confident that she will continue to champion netball in Scotland, even from a distance.”

Netball Scotland acknowledges the dedication and passion Tamsin brought to her role. The foundation she laid ensures that the team’s future is in strong hands, and they remain poised for success on the world stage.

Tomorrow will mark the penultimate day of the Netball World Cup in South Africa. As the top four teams advance to their semi-finals, Scotland are focused on their own goal-medal match with historic rivals Wales.

Scotland will play off with Wales for 9^th/10^th final standing and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Since Greenway took over in 2020, the growth of her squad has been evident, but they are yet to come out victorious against their long-standing rivals. However, Scottish Thistles have been doing their homework before their final match of the tournament, Greenway explains;

” I have been looking at a lot of video, this is the last piece of the puzzle for us.”

“We are evenly matched in lots of ways of how we play the game, they have far more experience that us. They have a group of seven players who when they take to court have all played first team Super League this year, we don’t.”

31/07/22 NEC Arena – Birmingham
Commonwealth Games
Netball
Scotland v Wales
Claire Maxwell
© Craig Watson
Craig Watson,
www.craigwatson.co.uk

“We don’t match up well with some of the ways they play defensively, I think that’s something that you can only get better at when you mentally shift and that is something we have been trying to do.”

With a strategic approach to the game, Greenway is confident they have all the tools needed to get the game over the line;

“I think we have given them every opportunity to play this final game against Wales. We have played them at Commonwealth Games and again at World Cup Qualifiers and in our build up to coming out here.”

Watch the match live on Sky Sports:

Scotland v Wales

9^th/10^th Playoff

Saturday 5^th August

5pm UK Time

Day two of 2023 Netball World Cup saw Scottish Thistles on court with Barbados in a high-intensity, must-win match for both countries.

Scotland ranked 10^th have clashed with Bajan Gems ranked 14th several times over the past two years with favourable results in all meetings.

The game was not a smooth start as both teams felt the pressure and need for a win to advance to the next leg of the competition.

Vice Captain, Emily Nicholl was confident of her teams’ structure and ability;

“We have played with the Corbin sisters in NSL so we are really comfortable with the change in line up within the Gems. We know this is a must-win match.”

The Scottish side took the first quarter to settle into the match after last night’s defeat from Malawi despite leading the match 3/4 quarters.

Head coach Tamsin Greenway commented on her pride her the team’s performance last night and stuck with her same starting seven for game two.

First quarter finished 11-8 to Scotland. Greenway told her team;

“Nerves out, now you realise you can actually play this game.” Nicholl echoed this, “that is exactly what we expected guys, well done now let’s get this over the line.”

The second half saw the teams fight it out goal for goal. A change from the bench in the final five minutes of the half injected some energy into the but Barbados was able to chip away at the 3-goal lead from the first quarter to tie the match 23-23.

Scottish Thistles used the break to take stock and reset. Further changes from the bench by Greenway gave the Caribbean side something to think about and Scotland capitalised on the shift in momentum to start to build back their lead.

Tonight presented another physical contest on court but Scotland stood their ground and were reward for it, sealing the win in the final quarter 53-44.

Niamh McCall was awarded POM after her standout performance in goal attack and credited her performance to a “full team effort.”

Looking ahead to tomorrows clash of home nations with England (ranked 3^rd) Emma Barrie says “it’s a great match to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world and see where we are.”

Final Score 53-44

To follow Scottish Thistles Netball World Cup journey head over to Instagram and Twitter for the latest.

MATCH REPORT: Malawi v Scotland

Day one of the 2023 Netball World Cup saw Scotland take on Malawi in Cape Town.  It was the first time these two sides have met in the history of the sport’s showpiece tournament.

The Scottish Thistles started the match with “intent” according to Head Coach, Tamsin Greenway;

“They started the match exceptionally well, it was kind of a textbook start. We knew if we went early at Malawi they wouldn’t be expecting it and I think that played out with the score line. We turned over a good amount of ball and we punished them for it. I thought we were really sharp in attack, I couldn’t be prouder of how we started the game, they really went with the intent that I wanted them to show.”

Malawi struggled to retain possession, with only 37 per cent of the ball in their hands. Scotland held a comfortable 17-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and it looked like an upset was on the cards.

A physical battle on court meant the young Scottish side had to stick to task and tactics. They held a convincing lead for the first half;

“I thought Rachel Conway did such a great job. She won us enough ball in that first half to really stamp our authority and that’s where we got that lead. Attacking wise, I though Hannah Leighton did an exception job on Lwazi and her work rate. Claire Maxwell had a real captain’s performance.”

The turn came in the final quarter where Malawi changed their line up and clawed back at the score line. The physical battle resulted in a two-minute suspension for wing-defence of the Malawi Queens but the experience of the African side was enough to push them over the line.

Q1 17- 9

Q2 29-22

Q3 41-35

Final Score 55-49

Speaking after the match, Head Coach Tamsin Greenway commented on her young squad, seven of which have never played in a World Cup before.

“The reality is this is a really young group, we had two kids out there in goal-keeper (Rachel Conway and Cerys Finn) against Mvula and Kumwenda and the reality is you can only do so much, tactically I thought we were great. We had patches in each quarter where we went 3 or 4 goals unanswered that killed our momentum and that is something you have to learn out there, it’s personal accountability, it’s riding hits and its game sense, those are all the things that you get from years of playing. It will come.”

Stepping on to court in their first World Cup match tonight, Rachel Conway, Hannah Leighton, Iona Christian, Emma Love and Cerys Finn showed real passion and intent.

“I am gutted for them, and they’re gutted. We said that we were going to go hard at this game and the risk was always going to be worse than the reward. If we had won this game today they would be riding the wave but we’ve got to pick ourselves back up and play Barbados tomorrow and that is a must-win game.”

“They will learn so much from this game, the rubbish part of it is they have to have these experiences to learn and that I’m afraid takes time and it’s something you have to do to ride the wave of international netball. They’ve got tonight to be upset about it and then they come tomorrow nice and fresh ready for Barbados.”

Captain Claire Maxwell, who made history tonight becoming Scotland’s most capped player added;

“We had an incredible start and maintained our lead for most of the match. We always knew Malawi would fight back and unfortunately for us we didn’t maintain our composure at key points.”

Scottish Thistles play again tomorrow in Pool B at 3pm (UK time)