WALES women’s netball stars take on the old enemy England at Glasgow 2014 today determined to build on an encouraging display against world champions Australia yesterday, writes Andrew Penman.
The Welsh may have ended up on the wrong end of a 63-36 score line against the awesome Aussies in their first Commonwealth Games pool match but vice captain Cara Lea Moseley is staying positive.
The Pontllanfraith goal attack turned 27 earlier this week and she’s dreamed of playing for her country on the big stage since childhood.
Moseley’s father Kevin played rugby for Pontypool and Newport and won nine Wales caps between 1988 and 1991 and she has now followed in his footsteps by representing her country.
But she’s under no illusions as to how tough the task is for Wales, who also face South Africa in their group as well as Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados.
“It’s a really tough group but we’re improving all the time and we know we’ve got to play the best if we want to get to be the best,” said Moseley.
“The hardest two games are up first against Australia and England and realistically we want to work towards finishing in the top five in the tournament.
“That means we probably need to win three of our five games to qualify for the fifth/sixth play-off.
“The main job for us is to keep everyone together as a unit and to make sure that no one is isolated,” she added.
“We've always been a very tight unit; we pull through no matter what.”
On today’s clash with England Moseley said: “We’ve played each other a lot in the Super League and we all know each other as players very well, just maybe not as England and Wales.
“We’ll go out there and enjoy it and hopefully get a result.”
Meanwhile, another Welsh star with a famous sporting father was in action yesterday.
Welsh women’s hockey star Xenna Hughes revealed she had been given some good advice from her dad Mark before the 2-0 defeat against England in Glasgow.
“He gave me some good advice about the big occasion and told me just to be confident in my ability,” said Hughes.
“He told me to concentrate on what I normally do and not over think things.”
Stoke City boss Hughes is unlikely to make the Games as he is currently away with the Potters on pre-season in Germany
“He is in Germany at the moment and very busy,” said Xenna.
“I don’t think he is going to be able to make it but we will see.”
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