The LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons faced Surrey Storm in a thrilling netball match on Friday night. Both teams were coming off recent wins, setting up the stage for an exciting match with battles all over the court.
The game started goal-for-goal, with Leah Middleton winning the ball for Dragons early on. Hannah Passmore added more movement to free herself under the post, but Storm came back into the game with early swings in momentum. The LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons led the way before the opposing team, Storm, made a comeback, ending the first quarter with a three-goal lead to the home team.
Passmore held strong against Ugandan Haniisha Muhameed, while Middleton continued to win the ball against her former team to keep the Dragons in the contest. Phillipa Yarranton substituted for Laura Rudland at goal attack and fought for the ball to reduce the deficit going into the second half. In the last minute of the second quarter, Jacqui Newton made a crucial intercept to bring the Dragons back to a two-goal difference heading into the second half.
Rudland re-entered the court at wing attack, and her pinpoint long feeds to Passmore kept the Dragons in the game with a goal-for-goal third quarter. With just three goals in it at the end of the third quarter, the Dragons had a chance to come back.
Rowe entered the court at goal shooter to start the fourth quarter, and the Dragons were back to a 2-goal difference early on. Khanyisa ‘KC’ Chawane notched up intercepts to keep the deficit to two, but Surrey made a surge of goals midway through the last quarter.
It was an exciting game with great performances from both teams. Although Dragons fought hard, it was the Storm who came out victorious in the end.
