Severn Stars 53, Celtic Dragons 46

Celtic Dragons produced an intense and passionate performance in their Vitality Superleague clash with Severn Stars at University of Worcester Arena.

The Welsh team were 10 goals down at one stage, but battled back to move within two points of their hosts.

During the final quarter Dragons took the game to Stars and were right in contention at 45-43 down, but they couldn’t quite complete their comeback.

“We had heart and fighting spirit,” said Dragons coach Trish Wilcox. “Now we need to put those positives into finishing out the game.”

Captain Suzy Drane suffered an injury and was replaced by Stacey Peeters at wing-defence during the third period, while Kyra Jones and Lois Rideout were sent on as Dragons searched for that winning edge.

The match was a first home fixture for new professional netball team Severn Stars, who earned their first Superleague win after defeats against defending champions Surrey Storm plus Loughborough Lightning. Severn Stars’ Superleague team is a joint venture between the University of Worcester and University of Gloucestershire.

The next Superleague match for Dragons is against Manchester Thunder away.

The starting seven for Celtic Dragons was: GS Kalifa McCollin, GA Sara Bell, WA Bethan Dyke, C Stacey Peeters, WD Suzy Drane (capt), GD Fern Davies, GK Leila Thomas.

Quarter-scores (Stars first): 16-10; 11-13 (27-23); 13-14 (40-37); 13-9 (53-46).

Dragons must wait until April to play at home when Loughborough Lightning will be the visitors to Cardiff on Monday, April 3 (7.45pm).  Details of all the Celtic Dragons fixtures and tickets for their home games can be found on www.celticdragonsnetball.com

Celtic Dragons team:

Leila Thomas. GK/GD. Aged 18, from Blaenavon.

Fern Davies. GD. Aged 20, from Holywell.

Lois Rideout. GK/WD/GD. Aged 25, from Ferndown, Dorset.

Kelly Morgan. GK/GD. Aged 29, from Bridgend.

Suzy Drane (captain). WD/C/WA. Aged 29, from St Mellons.

Bethan Dyke. C/WA. Aged 25, from Bridgend.

Stacey Peeters. WD/C. Aged 24, from Gore, New Zealand.

Kyra Jones. WD/C/WA. Aged 31, from Perth, Australia. Wales senior international.

Sara Bell. WA/GA/GS. Aged 26, from Llanelli.

Lydia Hitchings. GA/GS. Aged 19, from Vale of Glamorgan.

Kalifa McCollin. WA/GA/GS. Aged 21, from Trinidad and Tobago.

Eleanor Roberts. GA/GS. Aged 21, from Pontypool.

Head coach: Trish Wilcox.