Celtic Dragons are preparing for an Easter weekend double when they have two Vitality Netball Superleague matches on successive days.
The Superleague teams are split between two venues with Dragons playing in Coventry – against Saracens Mavericks on Saturday and Wasps the following afternoon.
Britain’s leading netball teams and players take to the court for Superleague’s ‘Big Easter Weekend’ to continue their battles.
Dragons, Surrey Storm and Mavericks are at the Ricoh Arena, home of Wasps netball, while Strathclyde Sirens host newcomers London Pulse, last year’s finalists Loughborough Lightning and the formidable Manchester Thunder at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.
Ericsson Indoor Arena at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Saturday, April 20
5pm Wasps Netball v Surrey Storm
7pm Saracens Mavericks v Celtic Dragons
Sunday, April 21
2pm Wasps Netball v Celtic Dragons
4pm Surrey Storm v Severn Stars
6pm Team Bath v Saracens Mavericks
Tickets going fast for our final home game of #VNSL2019 as @kyrajones09 plays her final @NetballSL game in Cardiff…
🆚 @SurreyStorm
📅 Saturday 27 April
⏰ 4pm
🗺️ @sportwalesNC
🚗 CF11 9SW🎟️ https://t.co/tCmBWCYKaH#WeAreDragons 💚 pic.twitter.com/GIGiL0H08h
— LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons (@cardiffdragons_) April 17, 2019
Emirates Arena in Glasgow
Saturday, April 20
2pm Strathclyde Sirens v Loughborough Lightning
4pm London Pulse v Manchester Thunder
Sunday, April 21
2pm Strathclyde Sirens v London Pulse
4pm Loughborough Lightning v Manchester Thunder
Not long now until we hit the road to take on @SaracensMavs
and @Wasps_Netball
in a massive weekend of netball in Coventry! 🚌🐲Tickets available here ⬇️ https://t.co/GG5IKfzeAn #WeAreDragons 💚 pic.twitter.com/7VyDapBKJB
— LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons (@cardiffdragons_) April 17, 2019
Celtic Dragons won 59-49 against Strathclyde Sirens in their last match, a fifth fixture of the season which the season double over the Scottish team in front of a sell out crowd at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
In a feisty affair, the home team took a 29-23 half-time lead.
Sirens attempted to stage a comeback, but the Dragons defence made some vital interceptions and went on to win.
“The girls ground that win out in what was a physical game,” said head coach Tania Hoffman.
“We have to learn that when we take a lead we have to keep going, but overall our defence and attack did well.”
Celtic Dragons took to a brand new Welsh Netball court at Cardiff Met’s National Indoor Athletics Centre to face their fierce Scottish rivals.
Captain Nia Jones was able to effectively organise the defence of Sirens’ centre pass. The home team made an assertive start to the second period with Bethan Dyke darting around the court to find plenty of options for the Dragons drive.
Dyke’s feeds into Kalifa McCollin kept Sirens at full stretch.
Dee Bolakoro was also able to make a couple of trademark interceptions and Kyra Jones performed particularly well in defence.
Chelsea Lewis remained strong under the goal , while Dyke continued to lead the Dragons attack and McCollin was also able to shoot some fancy long-rangers.
Suzy Drane went on for Dyke at the start of the fourth quarter, her first start since an injury in the warm-up against Stars a fortnight ago.
Dragons played with patience. Kyra Jones showed good control and decision-making at the circle edge.
Another tip from Stacian Facey saw the visitors’ last real chance to stage a late comeback go astray and Clare Elsley went on for Nia Jones near the end.
Elsley made an immediate impact as she set up a great feed into McCollin and Dragons closed out the game.
Dragons results/fixtures 2019 – most 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 Manchester Thunder 73, Celtic Dragons 46
Saturday 13 Celtic Dragons 59, Strathclyde Sirens 49
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 (away, 6pm)