UAE Falcons secure Europe Netball Open Challenge title after win over Republic of Ireland

National team gain revenge for last year's defeat by coming out on top against the defending champions 63-54 in Wales

The UAE Falcons celebrate after winning the Europe Netball Open Challenge. Photo: Ben Lumley / Europe Netball

UAE Falcons secured the Europe Netball Open Challenge title for the second time in three years, defeating the Republic of Ireland in the final on Monday.

The Falcons, who secured silver at the 2022 tournament in Gibraltar, emerged as champions in the competition held at the Cardiff City House of Sport, home to the Celtic Dragons Netball SuperLeague team.

The Falcons took the lead in the first quarter and maintained that advantage throughout to emerge winners over the defending champions 63-54.

“It was amazing to watch the players grow as a squad and put out on court all they had learnt; ball by ball, quarter by quarter, game by game,” Falcons head coach Deb Jones said after the team’s return to Dubai on Tuesday.

“The individual talent within the squad is evident, the magic is in putting it all together against some tough opposition and under the highest pressure using all twelve players throughout the event.

“With sheer determination and tenacity and with their eye on the prize, the Falcons stuck to task and closed out the win. They achieved this by playing calm, composed netball with a mixture of flair and creativity thrown in. I could not be more proud.”

The Falcons finished second at the end of the group games, losing 46-45 in a nail-biting match against the Republic of Ireland.

They met the Isle of Man in the semi-finals and came away with a convincing 60-50 win over their higher-ranked opponents, which secured a final rematch against the Irish.

The competition was split into two divisions based on the world rankings; UAE ranked 28th, competed against the Republic of Ireland (31st), the Isle of Man (25th) and Malta (36th).

Division 2 saw Gibraltar (38th), Israel (44th), Switzerland (46th) and France, the newest member and yet to receive a world ranking.

Falcons shooter Charlie Preston won the Player of the Tournament award.

The Falcons captain Carly Lewis added: “A fantastic week with a special group of girls. It’s been a pleasure to be their captain.

“We’ve worked really hard for this success and we are all thrilled to be going back to the UAE as gold medal winners.”

The Falcons travelled with a 12-member squad that contained a blend of youth and experience. That included Sophie Hankin, an experienced international player and sports coach at the Jumeirah English Speaking School, Dubai, who became eligible to represent the UAE this year.

Other players to make their debut were Alana Farrell Morton, Alex Craig and Nicole Bailey.

“There will be a squad debrief of the Wales event and the Falcons will be taking a much-deserved rest over the summer,” Susanne Skelding, team manager and the UAE Netball Board liaison, said.

“Subsequently, we will be back training and looking to consolidate this gold medal win at the Europe Netball Open competition in May of next year. We will also be seeking additional matches in 2024 to work towards improving our world ranking.

“The team behind the team will of course continue to work on the overall strategic development of netball in the UAE.”