UAE Eyasses avoid relegation in Europe Netball Championship

The UAE avoided relegation in the Europe Netball Championship after edging out hosts Northern Ireland on a better goal aggregate in the Under-17 competition in Antrim at the weekend.

The championship consisted of five nations – Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and the UAE, who finished fourth based on the scores, even though they didn’t win any games.

The UAE Eyasses went down to England 81-22 and were beaten by Northern Ireland (losing 44-49), Scotland (47-52) and Wales (52-53) in the remaining games.

According to the format, if a team gets within five goals of the lead score, they are awarded two points, and the UAE managed this against Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Northern Ireland were level with the UAE at the end of the tournament but the UAE were ahead on goal average.

As a result, Northern Ireland were relegated and the UAE maintain their position in this higher level championship competition.

“It is only our second time in the championship section of the competition for this age group and we have cemented the fact that U17 UAE netball belongs at that level having earned our fourth place out of five excellent teams in the top international netball stage,” the UAE head coach Deborah Jones said.

Jemma Eley, Maria Michailidou, Molly Fuller, Chloe Andrews (of Dubai College), Eliza Petricola, Holly Guerin, Yasmin Craig, Caitlin Gowdy (Dubai English Speaking College), Claire Janssen, Cristiana Morall (Jumeirah English Speaking School), Tessa Mies (Jebel Ali School), Mila Morgan (Cranleigh Abu Dhabi).

“For the most part, our consistent match play across the whole weekend, pushing the top teams in this age group, has enabled us to establish the UAE within the performance in the netball arena.

“The team