Celtic Dragons have switched their netball Superleague fixture against Strathclyde Sirens to Cardiff Met University.
Captain Nia Jones and her Dragons usually play at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, but they will take on Glasgow-based Sirens at the Cyncoed Campus.
The change of venue means additional tickets are available for the Vanarama National League following two 650-plus sell-out matches at the Dragons’ regular venue.
Cardiff Met is Dragons’ official training headquarters and coach Tania Hoffman says: “It is fantastic to be able to play a Superleague fixture at our training home.
“The players train there three times a week and it is really like a second home for us. The opportunity to play a hugely competitive fixture there is something we are keen to take advantage of.”
Dragons, currently seventh in the Vitality Netball Superleague table with 12 points, play Sirens on Saturday, April 13 (4pm).
They make the trip to play Manchester Thunder this Saturday aiming to bounce back from the their dramatic home 52-53 defeat against Severn Stars.
The Welsh team were in control, but slipped up after losing shooter Chelsea Lewis injured at the start of quarter four and that seemed to disrupt the home teams flow.
“We are frustrated and disappointed to have been up by eight goals and lose by one,” said Hoffman.
“I didn’t think the change at goal shooter would have mattered, but we as a team have to learn to play players into the game when they come off the bench.
“I thought we had it in the bag in the last quarter. We must learn to be able to dig deep and treasure the ball when we have it.”
Nia Jones tweeted: “Simply inexcusable for us to have squandered our lead against Sirens having fought so smartly to get it.”
The reaction of Dragons’ Australian centre Kyra Jones: “Sport is not very nice sometimes.. it can be heart breaking in fact.
“Defeat against Stars hurt because we let ourselves down.. We let our #greenarmyfans down.”
Suzy Drane tweeted: “Reflection time is a wonderful thing We saw passages of play that were so good against Stars they gave me goosebumps, moments of brilliance you just can’t teach.
“Yet we didn’t see off the opposition when we had opportunities. That’s what we need to learn to do as a team.”
Wing-attack Suzy Drane suffered a calf pull in the pre-match warm-up and Bethan Dyke took over.
Dragons were clinical in attack and produced some good work in defence, particularly a couple of tips from Stacian Facey.
They led 44-39 going into the final 15 minutes, but Chelsea Lewis went off injured and Eleanor Roberts went on.
Roberts immediately scored her first and there was little wrong with her radar, but the teams manner of play seemed to change.
Dragons were far less assertive in attack and with some ridiculous passes being flung up from mid-court, Stars could sense an opportunity.
Within a four minute period, Stars overturned a 5-goal deficit to lead as the Dragons started to lose touch with reality.
With five minutes left, Lewis was able to return to court, but by this time the team was in disarray.
Dragons produced a frantic last couple of minutes Stars, but were able to grind out their unlikely victory.
Quarter scores (Dragons first): 14-14 (14-14); 17-13 (31-27); 13-12 (44-39); 08-14 (52-53)
Celtic Dragons: GS C Lewis, GA K McCollin, WA S Drane, C K Jones, WD N Jones (capt), GD D Bolakoro, GK S Facey. Reps: B Dyke, C Elsley, E Nawele, E Roberts, A Tyrrell.
Severn Stars: GS G Rowe, GA M Holtzhausen, WA I Darroch, C L Harris, WD E Powell-Davies, GD J-A Ward, GK S Cook. Reps: CL Moseley, A Muskwe, S O’Dwyer.
Dragons results/fixtures 2019 – home games played at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.
Celtic Dragons 41, Team Bath 58
January
Saturday 12 London Pulse 40, Celtic Dragons 67
Friday 25 Severn Stars 57, Celtic Dragons 40
February
Monday 4 Celtic Dragons 44, Saracens Mavericks 66
Friday 8 Strathclyde Sirens 46, Celtic Dragons 50
Monday 18 Celtic Dragons 46, Wasps 58
Monday 25 Celtic Dragons 56, Manchester Thunder 83
March
Saturday 2 Surrey Storm 46, Celtic Dragons 48
Saturday 9 Celtic Dragons 57, Loughborough Lightning 70
Saturday 16 Team Bath 56, Celtic Dragons 50
Monday 25 Celtic Dragons 62, London Pulse 51
Saturday 30 Celtic Dragons 52, Severn Stars 53
April
Saturday 6 v Manchester Thunder (away, 5pm)
Saturday 3 v Strathclyde Sirens (home, 4pm; to be played at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s National Indoor Athletic Centre, Cyncoed Campus).
Saturday 20 v Saracens Mavericks (away, midday)
Sunday 21 v Wasps (away, midday)
Saturday 27 v Surrey Storm (home 4pm)
May
Saturday 4 Loughborough Lightning v Celtic Dragons (6pm)
Tickets for ‘Celtic Clash II’ at Cardiff Met can be purchased from celticdragonsnetball.ticketline.co.uk and there is a 10% discount for groups in multiples of 10. Contact Ticketline directly on 0161 813 2222.