Celtic Dragons Welcome Severn Stars To Cardiff On Monday

Celtic Dragons will be seeing Stars at the National Sports Centre of Wales on Bank Holiday Monday.

They take on Worcester-based Severn Stars (7pm), who are coached by former Australian international Mo’onia Gerrard.

Head coach Trish Wilcox and her players are aiming for a second successive Vitality Netball Superleague win after their 55-52 triumph against Scottish club Sirens live on Sky television.

That was a first Superleague victory for Dragons and Wilcox said: “The girls have fought so hard in every game and we knew there was a performance in there.

“Our green army fans turned out in force, the support was amazing.

“We worked on being patient, letting it go when it’s on, good defensive pressure when it’s not. The win against Sirens was huge, the girls have kept their belief and that was a massive confidence boast.”

Goal-attack Kalifa McCollin scored 40 goals from 43 shots against Sirens and said: “That win meant everything. We played for each other and pulled it together.

“We all know what we are capable of it’s about the team – we fought hard.”

McCollin’s parents flew in from Trinidad to cheer her on and produced an outstanding performance.

Jane Cowan, on the website Netball Scoop, described McCollin’s display, saying: “It was a master-class display.

“Khalifa demonstrated a full range of court craft; baseline drives, give and go interplays with the mid court, screens for GS Eleanor Roberts and a stupendous split landing to gain ground to the post.

“In addition she was not afraid to turn and shoot.”

Dragons’ Green Army fans urged their team on with mascot Dewi the Dragon playing a part.

Captain Suzy Drane suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter and was replaced by Stacey Peeters.

Player of the Match: Kalifa McCollin (Dragons).

Celtic Dragons: GS Eleanor Roberts, GA Kalifa McCollin, WA Bethan Dyke, C Kyra Jones, WD Suzy Drane, GD Kelly Morgan, GK Fern Davies.

Changes: Q2 Kelly Morgan to GK, Fern Davies to GD; WD Suzy Drane to bench (injury), replaced by Stacey Peters.

Scottish Sirens: GS Carla Borrego, GA Ellen Halpenny, WA Nicole McCleery, C Caroline O’Hanlon, WD Claire Brownie, GD Emily Nichols, GK Nicole Aitken-Pinnock.

Changes: Q3 Claire Brownie to GD, Nichols to WD; Q4 Claire Brownie to WD, Nichols to GD; Q4 Fiona Moore-McGrath to WA, Nicole McCleery to bench.

Quarter scores (Dragons first): 11-15; 13-11 (24-26); 18-12 (42-38); 13-14 (55-52).

Celtic Dragons: Roberts 15/17 88%; McCollin 40/43 93%; total 55/60 92%

Scottish Sirens: Borrego 42/48 88%; Halpenny 10/15 67%.

Vitality Superleague Netball 

Celtic Dragons remaining home fixtures – all at Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff

April

Monday 17 v Severn Stars (7pm)

Saturday 29 v Manchester Thunder (4pm)

May

Monday 1 v Hertfordshire Mavericks (4pm)

Monday 15 v Surrey Storm (7pm)

Saturday 27 v Wasps (4pm)

June

Saturday 3 v Team Northumbria (2pm)

Tickets for all Dragons home games can be found at celticdragonsnetball.com