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1960
Welsh star, Elizabeth Courtenay-Stringer talks to Gridball TV presenter, Joanne Keyes as the Welsh prepared for the Nations Cup Final clash with Northern Ireland. Jill Jenkins and Joan Williams watch on
© Linwelly 2023
1959
France started the defence of their title with a 2-0 win in Argentina while title favourites, England crashed 0-3 in Ireland and the surprise '58 Silver medallists, Puerto Rico came unstuck in sudden death in Belgium. The round of thirty-two also saw the final appearance of Hawaii, going down 2-5 to Northern Ireland before their national team was wound up after the islands were granted American Statehood.
Ireland and France played out the game of the last sixteen as Mona Coquerelle's hat-trick was cancelled out by five Lyn Cox goals as the Champions departed 3-6 in Dublin. '58 Bronze medallists, Scotland also exited when losing a battle of Britain clash in Wales.
Quarter Finals: August 15th 1959
Austria 0-3 Ireland
{Kate Good 25, Bernadette O'Faolain 33, Lyn Cox 48}
Germany 4-2 Belgium
{Nicole Lesch 12, 25, 44, Dorothea Runge 26}
{Annie Lomme 2, 27}
Greece 0-7 Wales
{Margaret Rees 14, Mariza Arvaniti Own Goal 24, Jean Anstiss 30, Elizabeth Courtenay-Stringer 35, 44, 59, Joan Williams 54}
United States 2-1 Holland
{Diane Roland 2, Loretta Racioppi 45}
{Yoka Crefcour 58}
Semi Finals
United States 7-4 United States
{Diane Roland 6, 32, 40, 41, Nancy Berlin 12, Loretta Racioppi 16, Amzie Dole 56 Pen}
{Bairbri Dalton 27, Bernadette O'Faolain 47, Lyn Cox 55, 57}
One of the all time great semi finals as the Americans roared into a three goal lead that they were able to maintain every time the Irish fought back
Wales 4-2 Germany
{Elizabeth Courtenay-Stringer 5, 26, 36, Jean Anstiss 40}
{Nicole Lesch 25, 45}
Still a great semi final, if overshadowed by events in the States. The Welsh were expected to reach their second Final and controlled the second half to book their place with a Courtenay-Stringer hat-trick
Bronze Medal Match
Ireland 1-0 Germany
1959 NATIONS CUP FINAL
Paris, France
United States 3-2 Wales
After Sudden Death
Amzie Dole {5} Susan Moffitt {50, 64}
Joan Williams {20}, Elizabeth Courtenay-Stringer {22}
A Nations cup final that looked close to call on paper and sure enough, needed sudden death to settle. The Americans came out of the traps flying as Amzie Dole fired them into a first quarter lead. However it was the Welsh who dominated the second quarter, turning the game over with goals from Williams and Courtenay-Stringer to lead at the break.
The Americans battled hard in the second half and were rewarded ten minutes from time by Moffitt's equaliser that set up a golden goal scenario.
The Americans were sent into dreamland when Moffitt scored again to take a Gridball trophy out of Europe for the first time ever.
1958
Defending Champions England suffered a shock 0-1 defeat at the amateurs of Honduras while Wales were defeated 1-2 in Uruguay. That set the tone for a surprise competition where the Americans were stunned by France before Scotland underestimated Puerto Rico. The islanders became the first amateur team to reach the Nations cup final but Mona Coquerelle was too good, smashing in all four goals to crown the French as World Champions
Quarter Finals
Holland 7-3 Honduras
{Yoka Crefcour scored six for the Dutch}
Puerto Rico 6-0 Uruguay
Scotland 2-1 Germany
Gilan and Logan see the Scots through at the expense of Morweiser's effort
United States 2-6 France
Coquerelle bags a hat-trick
Semi Finals
France 8-0 Holland
Mona Coquerelle hits four in demolition of the Dutch
Scotland 1-2 Puerto Rico
After Sudden Death
The Scots can't turn second half domination into goals and are punished by Penny Lambe's own goal
Bronze Medal Match
Scotland 3-0 Holland
1958 NATIONS CUP FINAL
London, England
France 4-0 Puerto Rico
Mona Coquerelle {1, 13, 17, 31}
Puerto Rico stunned the Gridball World in reaching the Nations cup final with a team of amateurs and a couple of Miami based reserves. The Final was one game too many for them as the French pros took the game by the scruff of the nexk from the bat off. Within a minute, Mona Coquerelle opened the scoring and they were in completed control by the end of the first quarter.
By the time Coquerelle completed her hat-trick, the French were turning on an exhibition and when she scored within a minute of the start of the second half, there was a fear they would rack up a frightening score. It was fortunate for the Puerto Ricans that France took their foot off the gas and settled for a 4-0 victory to be crowned Nations Champions
For Mona Coquerelle, her performances attracted the attention of Dublin, who signed her for the Elite Division in 1959
1957
The Nations cup was inspired by an unofficial tournament held in the summer of 1956 featuring teams representing England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
The Nations cup, initially called the World Cup of Gridball in its first season
Fifteen nations took part, including a team representing East Germany, though, like the East German club teams, they were actually based in West Germany
Quarter Finals
France 0-2 England
Mexico 2-0 East Germany
United States 0-1 Wales {After Sudden Death}
West Germany 2-1 Switzerland
Semi Finals
West Germany 3-7 England
Wales 4-0 Mexico
1957 NATIONS CUP FINAL
Glasgow, Scotland
England 2-1 Wales
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