The inaugural Korfball Commonwealth Championships held in London in July 2006 provided the perfect opportunity for the Wales squad to enter the fray at top-level korfball.
Held at Whitgift School in Croydon, seven teams battled it out for the championship trophy, including Scotland, Ireland, England, Australia, South Africa and the USA.
Wales finished the event on five points (2W, 1D, 3L) out of six games, which placed them fourth in the table, and third amongst the Commonwealth teams.
This represented another jump up for the Welsh as they retained their momentum at this level, and learnt some valuable lessons to take back to their clubs.
Wales 10 Ireland 13 (pictured above)
The opening game was between Celtic neighbours, Wales and Ireland. The opening score was to the Irish, but Wales soon caught up. At half time, the Irish lead by four goals but in the second half, the Welsh team bounced back. But this wasn't enough and the Irish claimed a final score of 13-10.
Wales 6 England 30 (below left)
Next up were competition hot favourites England and the Welsh put out a side based around the Cardiff members of the squad. The experience was to prove bracing, as the English were on top form.
The first half yielded three goals for the Welsh, but the English made 11. In the second half, the English claimed a further 19 baskets to rack up an impressive positive column of 30 to Wales' six.
Although this beating may stand as a negative Welsh record for some time, comfort can come from the fact that the Welsh scored more goals against England than any other team managed all tournament.
Wales 8 Australia 8 (above right)
After a well-deserved night's sleep and swim in the team's luxury Hilton Base, the Welsh lined up against a depleted, but nevertheless talented, Australian outfit looking for their first points of the event.
The game was increasingly played out to the tune of the referee's whistle, with more free passes and penalties called than any other game of the tournament. Even John Williams claimed the dubious honour of being the first Welshman to get booked.
Disappointingly for the Welsh, they could not knock down the Australian door, and the game ended 8-8.
Wales 9 South Africa 11
The Welsh entered their game against the tournament's other Southern Hemisphere squad, South Africa, in a determined mood.
Despite a string of injury related substitutions, the Welsh retained a high degree of fluency and attacked with all their might. A late charge was unable to overcome South Africa, resulting in a two-goal defeat to a well-drilled and well-played unit.
Wales 11 USA 8
Another night of rest and recuperation and the Welsh were up bright and early on the last day to face the USA. Like the Australian side, this was a team of mostly national league ex-pats with skill, if not unity.
The Wales team wasn't entirely comfortable with a 7-4 lead at half time, but throughout the second half, neither team could keep control of the scoreboard.
However, the Welsh did not allow the USA a decent foothold in the game and closed it out, if unconvincingly, 11-8.
Wales 9 Scotland 8
Wales and Scotland battled it out in a gripping game, with no team running with a lead of more than one goal. With the scoreboard showing a 4-4 draw at half time, the Wales team boosted their game play with fresh-legged substitutions.
The Welsh did not allow the Scots to shoot long, and throughout the deciding minutes of the game, the Wales team kept the ball and created the chance to seal it, claiming a win by the smallest of margins.
Commonwealth & Friends Tournament Final Table
| |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Goals |
Points |
| England |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
130 - 25 |
12 |
| South Africa |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
89 - 51 |
9 |
| Ireland |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
82 - 56 |
9 |
| Wales |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
53 - 78 |
5 |
| Australia |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
45 - 79 |
5 |
| N America |
6 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
41 - 88 |
2 |
| Scotland |
6 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
30 - 93 |
0 |
Commonwealth Championships Table
| |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Goals |
Points |
| England |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
92 - 16 |
8 |
| South Africa |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
56 - 31 |
6 |
| Wales |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
32 - 57 |
3 |
| Australia |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
25 - 59 |
3 |
| Scotland |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
20 - 62 |
0 |
Wales Scorers
Dave Buckland 13
John Williams 11
Ramzi Barbir 9
Nick Wilkins 5
Chris Gubby 4
Ceri Jones 3
Susan Belfourd 2
Sian Hunt 2
Tammy Kentfield 1
Elaine Hutchings 1
Lee O'Sullivan 1
An introduction to KorfballMore tournament photos at korfballmedia.co.uk
