Captain Nia Jones and her Celtic Dragons are preparing for a major Vitality Netball Superleague clash with Severn Stars un Gloucester on Friday.
It is the first Superleague fixture at the new University of Gloucestershire Arena and Dragons are intent on earning a second successive victory.
They won 67-40 against London Pulse at the Copper Box Arena last time out, one of the biggest wins in Dragons’ 14-year history.
“An outstanding team performance and the score reflected that,” says Jones. “
“It’s difficult to recall the last time Dragons won by a big margin like that. We are used to being in tight games, chasing or trying to claw back deficits.
🔊 SOUND ON | @niajones92 speaks with @MetBroadcast @alexmarierich about our Round 2 win and changing perceptions of the franchise…
💬 "I think it did turn a few heads that result!"#WeAreDragons 💚 pic.twitter.com/qK3PaP5tTK
— LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons (@cardiffdragons_) January 21, 2019
“Winning all four quarters was new territory for us.
“Superleague netball is an elite sport. Performances count, results count. We’ve proved with actions we are here to compete.
“This season, backed by a new coach and new players we are putting chat into action.”
New Zealander Tania Hoffman is the Dragons coach and Jones says: “Tania has been great and new ideas have made such a difference.”
Shooters Kalifa McCollin and Chelsea Lewis played a huge role in the win at Pulse.
Trinidad and Tobago international McCollin scored 27 goals from 27 attempts for a 100 per cent strike rate, while Lewis fire 37 from 41, an impressive 90 per cent.
1️⃣3️⃣ days until @NetballSL returns to Cardiff for our first home game of 2019 against @HertsMavericks
🎟️ https://t.co/crx1yowfu5 #WeAreDragons 💚 pic.twitter.com/WXuNzIh0On
— LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons (@cardiffdragons_) January 22, 2019
In mid-court the Jones’ girls – centre Kyra and wing-defence Nia – linked with wing-attack Suzy Drane in a formidable combination.
Goal-Attack McCollin and Goal-Shooter Lewis upped their game from the 58-41 defeat in Dragons’ opening match against Team Bath on the opening day of the 2019 season.
“Our shooters were at 70 or 80 per cent against Bath, but we gave them 20 less attempts than the opposition,” said Nia Jones. “That’s on us in mid court.
“We know from our team performance against Pulse that if we give our shooters the ball they will put it through the net.
“That display against Pulse was no fluke. All of our shooters work hard and get through more training than any other position on court.
“Hats off to them because they won us the game in London.”
Rise by lifting others. Big thanks to @CMetSandC for relentlessly driving standards for the @celtic_dragons pic.twitter.com/QN6EUgeQYb
— Nia Jones (@niajones92) January 19, 2019
Dragons were also well served by Jamaican goalkeeper Stacian Facey and flying Fijian Dee Bolakoro, at Goal-Defence, who made life incredibly difficult for Pulse.
Stars have opened their season with defeats against Pulse (49-51) and Loughborough Lightning (44-52).
Jamaican international Jodi-Ann Ward plays at wing-defence for Stars and Dragons must be wary of her speed and elevation in taking clean interceptions.
England futures international Halimat Adio shone at Goal-Keeper, while Stars will welcome back captain and shooter Maryka Holtzhausen after international duty with South Africa in the quad series.
Hosts Stars include Welsh players Georgia Rowe and Cara Lea Moseley in their team.
The 6ft 5ins Rowe, from Caerleon, said after Stars’ defeat at Loughborough: “We had some patches of brilliant play but are just fading off when under pressure and we have to be stronger and tougher when ahead.”
Coach Sam Bird is demanding her team are more ruthless against Dragons.
“We made a better start (v Loughborough) and rectified our errors from the previous week,” said Bird.
“Winning the first quarter was good, but we should have been further ahead. We are competing, but are still not confident enough and are coming up short when in the ascendency.
“We need to be more ruthless with possession and punish opponents when we have the opportunity.”
Vitality Netball Superleague round three fixtures:
Friday, January 25: Severn Stars v Celtic Dragons (7.30pm), Saracens Mavericks v Loughborough Lightning (7pm).
Saturday, January 26: Manchester Thunder v Strathclyde Sirens (5pm), London Pulse v Wasps (7pm).
Monday, January 28: Team Bath v Surrey Storm (7pm, live on Sky Sports).
VITALITY SUPERLEAGUE 2019
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | + | – | +/- | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Team Bath | 2 | 2 | 0 | 113 | 86 | 27 | 1.31 | 6 |
| 2 | Wasps Netball | 1 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 42 | 30 | 1.71 | 3 |
| 3 | Manchester Thunder | 1 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 51 | 7 | 1.14 | 3 |
| 4 | Saracens Mavericks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 110 | 97 | 13 | 1.13 | 3 |
| 5 | Celtic Dragons | 2 | 1 | 1 | 108 | 98 | 10 | 1.10 | 3 |
| 6 | Strathclyde Sirens | 2 | 1 | 1 | 101 | 93 | 8 | 1.09 | 3 |
| 7 | Loughborough Lightning | 2 | 1 | 1 | 94 | 116 | -22 | 0.81 | 3 |
| 8 | London Pulse | 2 | 1 | 1 | 91 | 116 | -25 | 0.78 | 3 |
| 9 | Severn Stars | 2 | 0 | 2 | 93 | 103 | -10 | 0.90 | 0 |
| 10 | Surrey Storm | 2 | 0 | 2 | 77 | 115 | -38 | 0.67 | 0 |
Dragons 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 v Severn Stars (away, 7.30pm)
February
Monday 4 v Saracens Mavericks (home, 7pm)
Friday 8 v Strathclyde Sirens (away, 7.30pm)
Monday 18 v Wasps (home, 7pm)
Monday 25 v Manchester Thunder (home, 7pm)
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