Match Report
England Netball
England Netball
Dragons start season with win as Bath ask, How do you solve a problem like Lottysha?
There has only been 24 hours of FIAT Netball Superleague action this year and yet this was the second ‘local derby’ match in as many days. Bath made the short trip over the Severn to face a Dragons side who were riding somewhat of a wave following their impressive performances in the Fast Net version of the game in recent weeks. Continuing their good form, it was the hosts who ended the game victorious with a convincing 61-49 win over their visitors. Lottysha Cato was once again the heavy scorer as the Dragons reverted to tactics that served them so well last season.
A see-saw first quarter had both sides racing out of the blocks and creating scoring opportunities with the game tied at 3-3 after barely any time at all had elapsed. Celtic were looking for their main target Cato immediately and the lanky shooter was being provided with plenty of feeds from Sophie Morgan and Cara-Lea Moseley. The looping, floating passes were working as the hosts moved clear. Bath were working hard in the mid-court as Mia Ritchie and Yasmin Parsons provided fluent service to Asha Francis and Kadeen Corbin, the latter looking particularly dangerous. The attacks for each side were most definitely on top and there was plenty of space on court allowing for a quick tempo to be played.
Moseley continued to link well with Sophie Morgan as they stood up passes for the grasping hands of Cato who always looked likely to score under post. However, Bath would not lie down and Corbin urged her team forward with a fantastic intercept directly after scoring. This seemed to rattle their hosts as Cato managed her third air shot of the quarter, with the visitors able to use turnover ball to their advantage. At the other end Corbin displayed her never say die attitude when she claimed a tip which rattled off the post, the Bath attacker was quickest to the rebound and deservedly scored as her team took a 14-13 lead at the whistle.
The visitors immediately established a two point lead with a rapid turnover in the second quarter but the action turned rather static as both teams conceded sloppy possession. Cato eventually ended the drought with a score which seemed to cause a positive reaction from the Dragons and they fought themselves back to level the game. There was still plenty of space on display as attack remained on top aside from the odd interception from Jamilla Abbott or Sam Cook at opposing ends. The fluidity was definitely there for Jess Garland’s side but occasional ill-discipline was costing them as Morgan and Suzy Drane continued the long feed to Cato who despite the odd mysterious air shot, was starting to pull her side clear. At half-time the Welsh side had completed the comeback and were 29-24 ahead.
Jess Garland made a tactical change at the interval in an attempt to quell the threat of the Grenadian shooter as she moved the versatile Corbin into GK. The idea was to man mark Cato out of the match and the initial exchanges saw the Bath and England player get the better of her opponent, athletically leaping around the defensive circle to make the intercepts. It was turning into an incredible battle between the pair with the shooter taking more than a couple of knocks, one of which required a time-out as she clutched her hip following a painful fall. However, the last word belonged to the Dragons star as, with the help of Moseley in the circle, Celtic upped the tempo and increased their lead. The home side were working tirelessly across the court with defence starting in attack and the energy never ceased. Nichola James and Stephanie Williams were relentlessly pressurising the Bath defence and forcing them into mistakes as the away team searched for a route back into the game. At the end of the fourth quarter, Celtic had opened up a ten goal advantage, 44-34 heading into the final 15 minutes.
With the Dragons lead extended, Garland called an end to the Corbin experiment and the England shooter was back in her usual position at GA. Melissa Hyndman took the chance to bring on Crystal George at GK and the experienced defender made an instant impact. There was no let-up in the stubborn Celtic defence as they continued to be as miserly as ever with George at the heart of all things good, one particular intercept bringing boisterous cheers from the home support. Meanwhile, the tactics of direct passing to Cato continued, despite Sam Cook’s unremitting attention, and the game moved towards an inevitable conclusion. The tempo began to slow and despite the best efforts of Ritchie to get the pace going again, some rushed and misplaced passing allowed the hosts to control the ball and kill the game off.
Celtic are running an interesting promotion at the moment to help attract the fans in, any ticket holder for the match this evening can exchange their used ticket for a voucher which allows free entry into a nightclub. If the Dragons can keep up this kind of form, there will be plenty of late night celebrations to be had this season.
Starting line-ups:
Dragons: GS - Cato, GA - Moseley, WA - Morgan, C – Drane, WD –Williams, GD - Pretorius, GK - Abbott / Bench: James, Thomas, Lewis, George, Jones
Team Bath: GS - Francis, GA - Corbin, WA - Parsons, C - Ritchie, WD - Watkins, GD - Fletcher, GK - Cook / Bench: Trounce, Hayes, Walsh, Rose, McGinley
Shooting stats:
Dragons: Cato: 44/53 – 83%, Moseley: 17/21 – 81%. Team: 61/74 – 82%
Team Bath: Francis: 25/34 – 74%, Corbin: 19/24 – 79%, Hayes: 5/7 – 71% Team: 49/65 – 75%