The Isle of Man’s senior netball team finished a very impressive second at the Netball Europe Senior Open in Gibraltar over the weekend.

It was the hooded ram-sponsored side’s first competition since splitting from England Netball last year and becoming a member of the International Netball Federation in its own right.

The islanders made a great start to the four-day five-team tournament on Thursday evening, beating fellow debutants United Arab Emirates 57-47 to notch up a maiden win.

Pre-tournament favourites Republic of Ireland were up next on Friday evening.

The islanders, led by skipper Ashley Hall, again impressed against a side that is currently ranked 22 in the world.

Unfortunately a late comeback from the Irish saw the Manx agonisingly lose 43-42 to the side that would eventually win the competition overall.

Another dramatic single-point defeat followed on Saturday for the Manx as hosts Gibraltar edged their contest 43-42.

The Isle of Man finished with a deserved flurry on Sunday, beating Israel 80-20.

The big victory was enough to secure the Manx second in the final standings on goal difference.

Hall was later voted joint player of the tournament.

More in reaction Thursday’s Manx Independent.