CYCLING

Life just gets better for Emma Finucane who now looks Wales’ best hope for Olympic glory in Paris this summer.

Finucane will return from the Netherlands with three medals gained at the European Track Cycling Championships to add to her world title.

The new Welsh cycling sensation capped off an impressive European Championships by picking up her third medal with silver in the women’s keirin.

Germany’s Sophie Lea Friedrich took top spot followed by Finucane, who added to her individual sprint gold and team sprint silver, and the 21-year-old believes the event has provided “good momentum” for GB.

“Honestly the vibes in our pen have been unreal throughout the whole competition. Whether they were winning or losing, everyone’s cheering for each other and got each other’s back,” Finucane said.

“I feel like the momentum has really carried on throughout the week.

“This is a record-breaking Europeans and I can really feel that and it’s exciting because we’re in 2024 and the Olympics are approaching so I feel like this is really good momentum for GB.

“We’ll just carry on throughout the year and see what happens, but it’s been really special that I can play a part in that.”

Great Britain were forced to withdraw from the women’s Madison after 12 laps when Welsh star Elinor Barker was involved in a crash and subsequently advised not to continue in the race.

 

NETBALL

Nia Jones has admitted Wales have let an opportunity slip through their fingers after they lost the decider in their three-match series against Uganda.

The Welsh Feathers captain insisted, however, the closeness of the series indicated the progress Wales are making under Emily Handyside, the coach appointed a year ago.

Feathers lost 59-48 as the She Cranes came from one-nil down to take the three-match series at Cardiff’s House of Sport, 2-1.

“I felt we let it slip in critical moments,” conceded Jones.

“There’s certain moments where you need to score off your possession and when you don’t it lets them off the hook.

“It could have stayed even closer towards the end and we could have built off that momentum we worked really hard to get going into half time.

“The break probably came at the wrong time for us and Uganda were grateful for it, but we’ll learn from those moments and one thing we’ve got from this series is belief that when we’re in the moment we can take them.”

The hosts won the opening match 57-45, but were beaten 64-40 on Friday.

Uganda were 17-12 ahead at the end of the first quarter in Saturday’s decider.

Feathers led early in the third quarter, but Uganda recovered to lead 44-38 going into the final period and went on to seal the success.

Uganda – who finished fifth in the recent World Cup – are preparing to face Australia, England and New Zealand in the upcoming Nations Cup.

Wales’ players will now focus on the forthcoming Super League season and domestic tournament, before a likely return to international action in the autumn, in a tournament yet to be confirmed.

 

ICE HOCKEY

Cardiff Devils finished third at the International Ice Hockey Federation Continental Cup, after defeat in their final round at home in Cardiff.

The Devils lost 5-2 to Nomad Astana, beat GKS Katowice 3-2, but then lost their final match, 4-3, to Danish team, Hernig Blue Fox.

Managing director Todd Kelman said: “I think it is safe to say that we played some inspired hockey this weekend and the results didn’t go our way.

“The boys fought hard and came up short.  That is hockey.”