By guest columnist Peter Ryan

The LexisNexis Dragons are on fire.

By securing their third win in a row, the Welsh side is building real momentum as they approach the end of the season.

Taking on the Birmingham Panthers, they secured a 62-50 victory. The memory of Round 7 still lingered, with the Panthers’ lone victory of the season coming at the Dragons’ expense after a fierce battle. This time, redemption became the driving force.

The Dragons side started with clear intent. Crisp ball movement and high intensity formed a strong foundation for the rest of the contest. Georgia Rowe established her attacking prowess early in the game.

It was a competitive opening quarter that ended with the Dragons leading by six points. The second quarter saw the visitors extend their advantage.

A highlight of the game came when Jacqui Newton read the Panthers’ defence perfectly for a fantastic interception. The Dragons entered the break with a 33-24 lead.

The game shifted in the third quarter, with momentum swinging dramatically as the gap narrowed to just two goals. Betsy Creek was accurate with her shooting, also hitting some Supershots.

The Dragons’ Neve McCall hit clutch shots to give her side some breathing room. Eight goals separated the teams heading into the final quarter. The Welsh side finished the game strongly, keeping the opposition at bay and closing out the contest to secure a 62-50 win.

It was another great display, and the stats reflected that.

From a statistical perspective, the Dragons produced fantastic numbers.

The shooting stats were very close, yet it was the away side that proved more clinical, with a 93% shooting success rate compared to Birmingham’s 89%.

Much like the shooting battle, the passing game was finely balanced throughout. Centre pass receives were level at 45 apiece, while the Panthers held a narrow edge in feeds, 60 to 58.

Penalties and unforced errors made the biggest difference. Birmingham tallied 72 penalties compared to the Dragons’ 42, as well as 11 errors to the Dragons’ four.

Rowe had another phenomenal performance, scoring 31 goals and securing two rebounds. McCall had seven goals, but more importantly, they came at vital moments, hurting the Panthers several times.

It was a hard-fought victory that helped strengthen their fifth place in the table.

After the victory, the Dragons are now five points clear of their closest rival. Their season record now stands at five wins and seven defeats, with 702 points scored and 734 conceded in a campaign filled with tight battles.

Next up, they will face the London Pulse, who are coming off a win over the London Mavericks. They sit third, with the title still very much within reach.

Momentum is building for the Dragons, and round 13 now carries even greater significance. With four straight wins in sight, another huge test awaits.

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