Emily Nicholl insists Scotland’s netballers are steeled for a crucial Commonwealth Games clash with Wales after finding their feet in front of a home crowd.
The Thistles refused to be daunted against the might of two-time champions and despite a 74-44 defeat, co-captain Nicholl was pleased with how her side acquitted themselves.
The home side were treated to a near full house at The Hydro and Nicholl believes her side will be better off for having experienced the big stage ahead of Sunday morning’s meeting with Wales.
The fixture is a must-win if Scotland want to post a best-ever finish at the Commonwealth Games and Nicholl is excited for the clash between two familiar foes.
Nicholl said: “We said to each other to take the opportunity to look up, soak it all in, find out what it feels like backstage, and get your routine in place.
“Tomorrow is the same game, so we'll be locked in. We're looking to make history as a sport. We're taking it game by game and focusing on the next challenge.
“That was one of the proudest moments of my career, being out there. It's not been the easiest couple of years, but we've kept plugging away.
“I didn't quite realise just how big the crowd was. When I came off and looked up, I thought, ‘My goodness.’
“It was insane to look out and see all the supporters.”
Scotland stayed close to New Zealand for most of the match, until the Silver Ferns eventually pulled well clear late on.
Victory was always unlikely against one of the sport’s powerhouses, but Nicholl knows it was a good test ahead of facing Wales.
“We're ready,” she said. “We put out some combinations and tested some things. We held some things back. We're looking forward to it.
“It's a feisty game, and the crowd will be absolutely ready for it.”
Nicholl leads a youthful side in Glasgow, with five Commonwealth Games debutantes in the squad.
Defender Cerys Finn is one of the sport’s most promising talents and heads to Glasgow 2026 off the back of a whirlwind domestic season.
The 21-year-old has just signed for Netball Super League champions AO Manchester Thunder, after being drafted into their side as an injury replacement for the league’s Grand Final last month.
Selection for the Commonwealth Games was just another milestone as she rides the wave of her recent success, and the Cardona native is intent on soaking up the experience.
She said: “It's super cool to be here and to get the chance to play in front of your friends and family.
“To play somewhere that I've come and watched so many concerts and events is really special.
“It only comes around once every four years, and it's a major competition. To be here with all the girls and have the opportunity to put in some really good performances over the next week is something we're really looking forward to.
“I seem to be riding a bit of a wave at the moment. I'm just hoping I can stay on top of it and not crash too soon. It's been a great season and I'm hoping to carry that form on.”
The opening day of action also saw a comfortable victory for England, who eased past Northern Ireland 83-34.
It was an ideal warm-up for their clash with world champions Australia, with head coach Anna Stembridge able to test out different combinations on court.
“Australia are world number one for a reason, and we have a huge amount of respect for them,” said Stembridge. “We feel well prepared and will be ready to respond to whatever tactics they bring. It's exciting to think about the matchups and the challenges we can pose as well.
“Ultimately, you want to play against the best and coach against the best. Those are the opportunities that test you and help you improve.
“It was nice to get the first one out of the way. It felt really special. We had 10 Commonwealth Games debutants, so there was a lot of excitement but also some nerves. Getting that first win and performance under our belts was important.”
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