By guest columnist Peter Ryan.

The LexisNexis Dragons are starting to build some real momentum as they picked up their second win in a row.

The Welsh side defeated the NIC Leeds Rhinos in a close encounter that ended 68-62. It was a hard contest where every goal mattered.

The memory of the Dragons’ 62–51 win still lingered, giving Leeds added motivation as they entered the clash determined to respond. It didn’t take the home side long to get the first points, with Paige Reed tallying her first goal of the day.

Georgia Rowe quickly struck back, as she and Reed traded goals early. Momentum was with the visitors in the opening stages, but by the end of the first quarter, the score was 18-16.

Throughout the second quarter, the visitors were defensively strong, while the Dragons secured many supershots. After the break, the two sides played at a fast pace, and once again the Dragons’ defence was steadfast.

At the beginning of the final quarter, the match was all square. Goals were traded, and each player fought hard. They held a nine-point lead at one stage; Leeds reduced the deficit, but it was a great win for the away side.

Nothing much separated them when looking at the numbers. The Dragons dominated the scoring with 52 goals to Leeds’ 30, but Leeds stayed competitive from range, hitting double the number of supershots.

Both teams moved the ball very well, creating opportunities. The biggest difference came in the Dragons’ seven rebounds compared to the opposition’s five. In addition, the Dragons kept the unforced errors to a minimum, with only five.

Rowe had another extremely impressive game, tallying 45 goals and being the game’s top scorer by a big margin. Leeds’ Reed also scored 17 goals in the game. Leah Middleton dominated the rebounding category with five.

Standings

After the victory, the Dragons move to fifth in the table with 15 points. In their 11 games, they have won four and lost seven. They have tallied 640 goals and conceded 674.

Another interesting stat is the bonus points they have accrued, with the Dragons earning three, which is the second most in the league. Next up, the Dragons will face the Birmingham Panthers, who will be in pursuit of victory after suffering a defeat to league leaders Loughborough Lightning.

It was a statement win at a crucial stage of the campaign. With the season nearing its conclusion, they now turn their focus to carrying that momentum into the battles ahead.

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