Celtic Dragons face a massive test of character in Glasgow this evening.
Head coach Julie Hoornweg and her team take on a UWS Sirens team who are full of confidence after their 51-43 win against Team Bath two days ago.
“Our best game so far this season,” tweeted Sirens’ player Claire Brownie. “I am buzzing to get back on court tonight.”
That victory lifted Sirens above Dragons, who are now bottom of the Vitality Superleague. They are level on points with Team Northumbria and Sirens.
All three have earned two wins this season and the Sirens v Dragons clash is crucial in their bid to avoid finishing last.
This evening’s match at the Emirates Arena (7pm) will be fiercely contested – and Sirens also visit Cardiff next month when the teams clash in the return at Sport Wales National Centre on Saturday, June 16 (4pm).
Dragons suffered a crushing 78-38 defeat against Manchester Thunder at home on Friday, but headed north for their Celtic challenge intent on producing a big team performance.
Sirens won the first three quarters against Bath and led by 12 going into the final session. Bath hit back strongly, but the deficit was too much to pull back.
UWS Sirens v Team Bath quarter scores (Sirens first): 14-9; 14-13 (28-22); 14-8 (42-30); 9-13 (51-43).
Celtic Dragons fixtures and results
February
Monday 12: Celtic Dragons 49, benecosMavericks 61
Saturday 17: Celtic Dragons 35, Team Bath 54
Saturday 24: Loughborough Lightning 69, Celtic Dragons 45
Monday 26: Celtic Dragons 55, Surrey Storm 50
March
Saturday 3: Manchester Thunder v Celtic Dragons (postponed, rearranged for June 11, 7pm)
Saturday 10: Celtic Dragons 49, Severn Stars 40
Sunday 18: Wasps Netball 74, Celtic Dragons 32
April
Saturday 28: Celtic Dragons 51 Team Northumbria 56
May
Friday 4: Team Bath 66, Celtic Dragons 39
Monday 7: Surrey Storm 70, Celtic Dragons 42
Monday 14: Celtic Dragons 38, Loughborough Lightning 66
Saturday 19: benecosMavericks 68, Celtic Dragons 36
Friday 25: Celtic Dragons 38, Manchester Thunder 78
Monday 28: UWS Sirens v Celtic Dragons, 7pm
June
Saturday 2: Team Northumbria v Celtic Dragons, 6pm
Saturday 9: Celtic Dragons v Wasps Netball, 4pm
Monday 11: Manchester Thunder v Celtic Dragons, (Wright Robinson College, 7pm)
Saturday 16: Celtic Dragons v UWS Sirens, 4pm
Monday 25: Severn Stars v Celtic Dragons, 7:30pm
Vitality Superleague fixtures on Bank Holiday Monday (May 28):Surrey Storm v Severn Stars (7pm, being shown live on Sky television).
Previous results this weekend: Celtic Dragons 38, Manchester Thunder 78; UWS Sirens 51, Team Bath 43; benecosMavericks 59, Team Northumbria 40; Wasps 47, Loughborough Lightning 60.
VITALITY SUPERLEAGUE 2018
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | + | – | +/- | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Wasps Netball | 13 | 12 | 1 | 823 | 591 | 232 | 1.39 | 36 |
| 2 | Loughborough Lightning | 14 | 11 | 3 | 827 | 673 | 154 | 1.23 | 33 |
| 3 | Manchester Thunder | 13 | 10 | 3 | 759 | 657 | 102 | 1.16 | 30 |
| 4 | benecosMavericks | 13 | 10 | 3 | 739 | 638 | 101 | 1.16 | 30 |
| 5 | Team Bath | 13 | 9 | 4 | 679 | 615 | 64 | 1.10 | 27 |
| 6 | Severn Stars | 13 | 4 | 9 | 625 | 671 | -46 | 0.93 | 12 |
| 7 | Surrey Storm | 13 | 3 | 10 | 672 | 725 | -53 | 0.93 | 9 |
| 8 | UWS Sirens | 12 | 2 | 10 | 528 | 669 | -141 | 0.79 | 6 |
| 9 | Team Northumbria | 14 | 2 | 12 | 630 | 800 | -170 | 0.79 | 6 |
| 10 | Celtic Dragons | 12 | 2 | 10 | 509 | 752 | -243 | 0.68 | 6 |