Celtic Dragons 59 Leeds Rhinos Netball 59

By Saskia Holland

Leeds Rhinos travelled to Cardiff to take on Celtic Dragons at House of Sport in the final round of the Netball Super League. A game off both sides ended

The game started with a turnover for Nia Jones which allowed Leeds Rhinos to go 2-0 to start the game with goals from both Ellie Bird and Paige Reed.

A missed shot for Rachel Dunn was picked up by Vicki Oyesola and contact against Ella Powell-Davies in the circle allowed Reed to convert to make the score 6-2.

The partnership between Reed and Caroline O’Hanlon was intercepted by Powell-Davies and Dunn added another goal for Celtic Dragons to make the score 13-12.

An intercept in the defensive end of Celtic Dragons ended in a goal for Gabby Sinclair and the score was level, 13-13.

An attacking contact call for Bird under the post was passed down court by Celtic Dragons where Dunn found Sinclair, 15-13.

A turnover in the last thirty seconds for Reed meant Bird could get a goal to finish the quarter 16-15 to Celtic Dragons.

Reed was unable to get the ball to Bird from the circle edge and it landed out of court in favor of the hosts. Shona O’Dwyer fed the ball into Dunn from the circle edge 17-15.

O’Hanlon was unable to keep her balance on the court and the ball was intercepted as she attempted to feed into Bird.

A circle edge intercept for McDonald was finished by Bird after an offside call for Clare Jones.

Leeds Rhinos worked tirelessly through the court, this forced Celtic Dragons off the backline. After converting from a Celtic Dragons center, Rhinos then took their centre straight to goal which brought the game level at 22 all.

O’Dwyer tried to find Dunn but the ball lands over the backline and Bird gets the goal for Leeds Rhinos 25-24.

Celtic Dragons worked hard moving the ball around the circle but a feed into Sinclair was finished with a goal.

A goal with 5 seconds remaining for Celtic Dragon meant the score was level at half time, 30-30.

The third quarter started with goals for both sides but was disrupted when Shaquanda Greene-Noel intercepted the feed into Bird. Jemma Donoghue was pulled for contact outside of the circle which allowed Dunn to receive the pass and convert.

Another turnover for Celtic Dragons helped extend their lead, 36-31.

A held ball call for O’Dwyer allowed O’Hanlon to feed the ball to Reed but a missed shot was picked up by Powell-Davies and scored by Sinclair at the other end.

Celtic Dragons were forced to take the centre pass to end the third quarter but a miss from Dunn meant the score was 48-44 going into the final quarter.

O’Hanlon found Bird with a long feed, 50-49. A held ball call against Celtic Dragons and Bird converts to level the score 50-50.

On an attempt to go ahead, Bird landed out of court and Celtic Dragons took advantage as Sinclair scored another.

A missed shot from Sinclair was picked up by Oyesola and Bird scored on a penalty shot under the post against Greene-Noel.

Michelle Magee made an intercept an Bird converted and the scores were level 53-53.

Contact against Magee to end the game meant Dunn scored a final goal to end the game in a draw, 59-59