Sporting veterans returned to the top tier for Welsh clubs this week – and made an impact.
Centre Clare Elsey, aged 40, played for Celtic Dragons in Vitality Netball Superleague, while 44-year-old former World squash number three and British Open squash champion David Evans was in action for Welsh Wizards.
Superleague is full of World class netball players, while the Premier Squash League is without doubt the strongest club competition on the planet.
It was a treat to watch both players take to the court at Cardiff’s Sport Wales National Centre – and there is no question they love playing at the top level in their sport.
Celtic Dragons netball:
Highly experienced Clare Elsey, a former Team Bath, Mavericks and Severn Stars centre, has played in the last two Superleague fixtures for Dragons.
Elsey went on as replacement for Australian Kyra Jones against Mavericks at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff. Jones switched to wing-attack in a 66-44 defeat.
It was, though, important for Dragons to give Elsey court time and there was a fluency and intensity to her play in mid-court.
“I loved it,” said Elsey, who has played in the last two matches for Dragons. “It’s a long time since I have played regularly at this level. I keep trying to retire, but it doesn’t seem to work out.
“Tania (Dragons coach Tania Hoffman) gave me a call and it was maybe a bit last minute. I’m just too old for this stuff at 40, but here I am.
“I’m sure that’s the oldest in Superleague.
“Tania invited me for a training session. I play national league, but the pace of netball in Superleague is completely different.
“It is, though, good to get back on court and I am working to adjust to the speed. It’s great to be with the girls and Tania is a great coach. I’m having a whale of a time.”
Elsey lives in Bristol and has a highly responsible job at Badminton School in Gloucestershire.
After being selected for Dragons, Elsey said: “To be selected and play for this team at such a high level is an absolute honour. I hope I can do the school, myself and girls proud throughout the season.
“It is an exciting time for women’s sport and netball in particular. To be at the forefront of this at such a special time is incredible.”
Elsey captained England when they became the first ever indoor Netball World Champions in 2016 and said: “I was fortunate enough to captain England into the history books by becoming the first ever Indoor Netball World Champions.
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 v Strathclyde Sirens (away, 7.30pm)
Monday 18 v Wasps (home, 7pm)
Monday 25 v Manchester Thunder (home, 7pm)
Had great fun filming and editing these walk-ons for @celtic_dragons 🐲📹 Brilliant and professional athletes to work with as always… and there's still more funny ones to come! 👀 #keepaneyeout https://t.co/k6xqhnBWJA
— Alexandra Richards (@alexmarierich) February 6, 2019
March
Saturday 2 v Surrey Storm (away, 6pm)
Saturday 9 v Loughborough Lightning (home, 4pm)
Saturday 16 v Team Bath (away, 5pm)
Monday 25 v London Pulse (home, 7pm)
Saturday 30 v Severn Stars (home, 4pm)
April
Saturday 6 v Manchester Storm (away, 5pm)
Saturday 3 v Strathclyde Sirens (home, 4pm)
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)
For home match ticket information click on the Dragons name Celtic Dragons
Welsh Wizards squash:
The players settled in for a post-match meal at Cardiff’s Pontcanna Inn, close to the Sport Wales National Centre.
Both teams, home and away, were present and David Evans was realistic, saying: “RAC were runners up in the PSL last season and they brought a strong team.
“Marwan (ElShorbagy) was close and Edmon (Lopez) was maybe even closer. We felt he might pinch it.
“Personally, I didn’t expect to play this season. We joined the League late on and we have been affected by injuries.
“Lower down we don’t have the youngsters ready yet. It’s better for me to fill in.
“Having said that, my mind is telling me one thing, while my legs and body are telling me something else.”
Evans played Ben Coleman from Chelmsford, who has a ranking of 52 in the World.
Off the court, Evans is Squash Wales Performance Director.
He represented Wales at more than 100 major international events, excelled for his country at four Commonwealth Games and helped Wales to a World Team Championship silver medal in 2000.
Evans stepped in because Wizards were without Welsh trio Tesni Evans, the World number 12, and her brother Emyr plus Peter Creed. All had commitments on the World tour.
For Wizards match tickets click on the link: welshwizards.com/book-tickets
Premier Squash League fixtures:
Round eight:
March
Tuesday 5: Nottingham v WarKens, Chichester v Welsh Wizards,
Friday 8: Birmingham v Bristol, Coolshurst v Tradition@RAC, Newcastle v Pontefract, Bexley v St George’s.
Round nine:
March
Tuesday 19: Pontefract v WarKens, St George’s v Welsh Wizards, Nottingham v Birmingham, Chichester v Coolshurst..
Friday 22: Newcastle v Bristol, Bexley v Tradition@RAC.
Round 10:
April
Tuesday 2: WarKens v Newcastle, Tradition@RAC v Chichester, Bristol v Nottingham, Birmingham v Pontefract, Welsh Wizards v Bexley.
Friday 5: Coolshurst v St George’s.
Play-Off semi-finals to be played week commencing May 6, while the final will be at St George’s on Saturday, June 1.