Bethan Dyke has pledged to celebrate with a back flip if Celtic Dragons win one or both of their last two Vitality Netball Superleague fixtures.
Mid-court player Dyke, from Bridgend, made her promise during a live Dragons Q&A session online.
“If we win against Wasps and/or Team Northumbria I will attempt the back flip after our final match,” says Dyke, who was answering questions along with team-mates Stacey Peeters and Leila Thomas.
Wales international Dyke is a former Penybont Dragons and Cowbridge centre or wing-attack who is now a key player for Dragons at the highest level of netball in Britain.
Head coach Trish Wilcox and her team play Wasps this Saturday at the Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff (4pm), while their final match against Team Northumbria is being played at Ebbw Vale Sports Centre on Saturday, June 3 (2pm).
Dragons are preparing for a big finish to the 2017 season in front of their Green Army fans – and former gymnast Dyke will be delighted to fulfil her pledge.
Dyke and 20-year-old defender Fern Davies from Holywell are among the Dragons players aiming to play their part in a winning finish to the Superleague campaign and have long-term ambitions for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
“It’s my lifelong dream and I’m going to train to my maximum to ensure best possibility of selection,” says Davies. “I adore playing for my country and playing at that event would be magical.
“I want to continue working towards the World Cup 2019.”
Davies, who works in the Army, has captain Wales at under-21 level and is also a full international.
“Playing for Celtic Dragons is a dream come true if I’m honest,” she says. “I worked hard to achieve my placing on the team so finally putting on that green dress was mesmerising.
“Every time I put on the dress I think about how far I’ve come and the journey I’ve been on up until wearing it.
“I am continually learning about myself as a person and how it feels being an elite athlete. I will never take it for granted. Being a Dragon is something special that only Dragons can explain.”
The team are bottom of Superleague with only one win so far, but they have competed strongly in every fixture and are confident they can finish their campaign on a high.
“Looking at the table is very deceiving for me,” said Davies. “Since game one, I have never felt we have struggled in any game we have played.
“We have competed to the highest level and are still continuing to push teams to their maximum.
“We have learning from each game and are working so hard to find what the small margins are. We are mainly looking at finishing games off. In the Superleague anything can happen, the margin for error is so small.”
Davies has talked about her goal-defence role, saying: “You have to be the most annoying player on the court and I love it! I love keeping things simple because that’s how sport should be.
“A goal defence should keep their GA out of the game, track her hard through the court and pressure her shots.
“A good game for a defender would be turning ball over for her team, whether that be on her own or as a defensive unit working with her GK, WD and C. Lots of communication and striking some nerves into her GA.”
Vitality Superleague Netball
Celtic Dragons’ two remaining fixtures are both at the Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff.
May
Saturday 27: Celtic Dragons v Wasps (Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, 4pm)
June
Saturday 3: Celtic Dragons v Team Northumbria (Ebbw Vale Sports Centre, 2pm)
Tickets for all Dragons home games can be found at www.ticketline.co.uk
Information is available via celticdragonsnetball.com