NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball 52 Lexis Nexis Cardiff Dragons 60

By Tyler-Sue Chapman

NIC Leeds Rhinos suffered defeat against the Lexis Nexis Cardiff Dragons in their last home game of the 2025 season at Sheffields Canon medical arena. 

An early error from the visitors allowed the Rhinos to slot away the first goal of the game. Dragons quickly refocused and took advantage of some misscommunication between the Rhinos attack end which resulted in the visitors holding a 7 goal advantage after the first ten minutes of play (4-11). Lauren Palmer used the Rhinos tactical time out just before the first super shot period. Harriet Jones slotted away the first super shot of the fixture from range to the home crowds delight once play recommenced. Despite a flurry of super shots for the Rhinos it was the visitors who entered the first break with the advantage 10-15.

Both sides started the second quarter with clear intent but showed errors. After 5 minutes of play it was still the visitors who held the advantage 12-22. Dragons increased the advantage out to thirteen just before the super shot period. Super shots were slotted away by Jones and Joyce Mvula but at the half time break it was still the visitors who held the lead 25-34. 

Five minutes into the second half Meg Allen replaced Jess Haynes in the goal defence bib to make her second NSL appearance. The deficit for the Rhinos was reduced to just 6 points with 23 minutes left to play, which saw the Dragons use their tactical time out. Dragons refocused after the time out and despite further shooting successes from Jones and Mvula it was the Dragons who held the lead entering the final 15 (39-47).

The ball transitioned up and down the court for both sides at the start of the final quarter. Dragons held composure and Alex Johnson came out with ball which the Dragons managed to convert, only adding to their advantage (43-55) with less than ten minutes of the game remaining. Sophie Egbaran made an attacking intercept and turned over a Dragons centre pass ; she converted before finding Mvula on the next centre pass. The super shot buzzer sounded but a missed shot for the Rhinos saw the ball return to the visitors. Time denied either side of a final goal which saw the visitors take the win 52-60.

NIC Leeds Rhinos will return to the road for their final round game of 2025 next weekend (June 15th) when they face Nottingham Forest at Nottingham’s Motorpoint arena.