Netball: Four trophies decided in charity cup finale

Premier Division runners-up beat champions during busy NSC event

Four pieces of silverware were confirmed in Isle of Man Netball last weekend in the finale to the current season.

Eight teams faced off across four finals - the shield, plate, vase and cup - for the 2024 edition of the Judi Clark-Wilson Charity Cup at the NSC on Sunday (28 April).

In the opening contest of the day, the shield final saw Division 2 runners-up Simcocks Silver snatch a 26-22 victory over league champions Castletown Vikings.

Some slightly more clinical finishing from the eventual victors saw Simcocks' goal attack Umata Pugeva earn the player of the match award.

Straight after saw the winners and second-placed side of Division One - Simcocks Green Eagles and Manx Gems Emeralds respectively - face each other in the plate final.

After a slow start for both it was Simcocks Green who began to start finding success going forward from the second quarter onwards to race away and eventually win 22-9 - Simcocks Green's Leah Prentice took the player of the match accolade despite suffering an injury in the final stages.

The penultimate clash saw the vase final the meeting of the best two sides for this year's Championship Division campaign with Castletown Spaniards edging out Misfits A 29-21 in a close-fought battle.

With just three goals difference between the two teams heading into the final quarter, Spaniards took their chance to convert five more in the remaining minutes to seal the deal - along with bagging the trophy, Spaniards' player Bree Collister took the player of the match prize.

The last action of the occasion saw the top two domestic sides on Island from this year's Premier Division - Simcocks Red Eagles and Suntera Global Ballasalla Blizzards - meet in the final of the cup.

In another intense showdown, Simcocks Reds - runners-up behind their opponents in the league this season - had the slightly superior firepower to take a 28-20 win.

The eventual victors led throughout despite a spirited comeback from Ballasalla across the third and fourth quarters - Ballasalla centre Mairi Harrison scooped the player of the match award.