The Ugandan She Cranes win Wales Home Test Series in Thrilling Final Match

At the start of the new year, we hosted a test series between the Uganda She Cranes and the Welsh Feathers. The series was closely contested, with Uganda winning two of the three matches to take the series. The Welsh Feathers had lots to celebrate over the series, including a win and six debuts. An abundance of netball fans watched the matches both at House of Sport and online with all three matches being streamed on BBC iPlayer thanks to Tantrwm.

Test One

The first test match saw the Welsh Feathers begin the test series in the best way possible. The Wales side showed their intent for the series and dominated across all areas of the court. The shooting pairing of Georgia Rowe, and Phillipa Yarranton worked seamlessly with midcourters Bethan Dyke and Shona O’Dwyer, whilst the defensive unit of Captain Nia Jones, Ella Powell-Davies, and debutant Leah Middleton turned over plenty of ball.

The Welsh Feathers had three debutants in total, including Leah Middleton (#222), Megan Pilkington (#223), and Alex Johnson (#224), who all had a positive impact on the game.

Leah Middleton was awarded the Player of the Match as Welsh Feather #222, after delivering an outstanding performance.

Test 2

Uganda made their comeback in the second test match and levelled the scores heading into the final game.

During the second match of the test series, the She Cranes’ wing attack, Lillian Achola, was able to move freely in attack and consistently found her goal shooter, Mary Cholhok, under the post. It was evident that Uganda had improved their performance from two days prior, as they secured a solid 64-40 victory. With the last match of the series looming, it promised to be an exciting one with everything still to play for.

Despite not getting the win, the Welsh Feathers celebrated the debuts of two more players in this match. Caris Morgan entered the court to become Welsh Feather #225, and Abigail Caple became Welsh Feather #226.

Test 3

With the series levelled, it was all to play for in this third and final test match.

The match was nothing short of a spectacle as both teams displayed an impressive level of performance. They showed themselves to be evenly matched, each holding their ground throughout the game. The players exhibited remarkable coordination, quick thinking, and precision that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

Despite the intense competition, the World number five team managed to clinch the victory over their opponents. They had the benefit of experience, having been in similar high-pressure situations before. Their players demonstrated exceptional teamwork, communication, and a deep understanding of the game, which helped them make calculated moves at crucial moments.

In the end, it was their strategic thinking, quick reflexes, and unwavering focus that set them apart from their opponents. The World number five team’s players showcased their expertise and clinched the victory, leaving both the audience and their opponents in awe of their impressive performance.

Welsh Feather Ellen Morgan (#227) made her debut in this match, becoming the sixth debutant in the series. She had an impressive display in the centre position.

In this match, Georgia Rowe was recognised as the Player of the Match for her outstanding efforts. On the other hand, Mary Cholhok from the opposing team was awarded the Player of the Series title.