Celtic Dragons 57, Surrey Storm 69
Green Army fans are loud and proud at every Celtic Dragons home fixture, but their team can be frustrating to watch.
Dragons players have proved time and again they have the ability, team spirit and character to compete with all opponents in Vitality Superleague netball.
They have been edged out in close fought matches, while the Welsh team won two of the four quarters against visitors Surrey Storm at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.
Dragons, though, were unable to earn the victory they crave.
Captain Suzy Drane reflected on the defeat, saying: “We came out 12 goals down, but it’s important to take in what we have done really well.
“We were really pleased with our centre pass success rate in the first quarter – 95 per cent – and will be looking at that in our performance analysis and make sure we understand why that and our turnover rate were so high.
“Those factors helped us come out on top in that opening quarter.
“We will look at all positives and take a look at critical errors which crept in. Everybody will work on those in training ready for the next game.”
Centre Kyra Jones also paid tribute to supporters who fired up the atmosphere, saying: “Our GreenArmy are always amazing. We can hear them every minute of every match.”
Dragons won the first quarter 20-17, but slipped 11-19 in the second. They made changes with Fern Davies at GD and Stacey Peeters WD.
Lois Rideout returned at GD during the final quarter, while Beth Dyke called a time-out when Drane went on at WA.
Only two goals separated the teams going into the last session, but Storm finished the stronger to earn victory.
Dragons, who have earned one Superleague win this season, travel to play leaders Loughborough Lightning this Saturday before completing their fixtures with back-to-back home matches.
Wasps and Team Northumbria, who are second and ninth in the table respectively, are the teams who have yet to play in front of the Green Army.
Celtic Dragons starting seven v Storm: GK Morgan, GD Rideout, WD Peeters, C Jones, WA Dyke, GA McCollin, GS Roberts.
Surrey Storm starting seven: GK Hutchinson, GD Sutherland, WD Williams, C Parsons, WA Lees, GA Harris, GS Craig.
Quarter scores (Dragons first): 20-17; 11-19 (31-36); 16-13 (47-49); 10-20 (57-69).
Vitality Superleague Netball
Celtic Dragons’ three remaining fixtures. Home games at Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff
May
Saturday 20: Loughborough Lightning v Celtic Dragons
Saturday 27: Celtic Dragons v Wasps (4pm)
June
Saturday 3: Celtic Dragons v Team Northumbria (2pm)
Tickets for all Dragons home games can be found at www.ticketline.co.uk
Information is available via celticdragonsnetball.com