London Pulse hold off charging Celtic Dragons in hard-fought contest

The visitors got the game underway with Tayla Honey taking the first centre pass and defensive pressure from Dragons forced errors that gave them an early advantage on the scoreboard.

The game went goal-for-goal until Zara Everitt made an important intercept around the circle edge for Pulse that gave them a momentary lift only for Dragons turn the ball over again.

A last-second intercept from Shaquanda Greene-Noel gave Dragons the ball and they manage to get it into shooting circle but couldn't finish the quarter off with a goal, meaning the home side's lead stood at two after the first quarter.

Dragons got the second quarter started by getting a goal on the board and made a substitution with Annabel Roddy moving to wing defence and Leila Thomas coming onto the court in the goal defence position.

After Pulse levelled the scores early, both teams settled into the game and continued to go goal for goal throughout the second quarter. Dragons grabbed a loose ball and Georgia Rowe converted, proving patient with the ball and establishing a two-goal lead.

Sacha McDonald contested the ball and managed to get Pulse a sideline pass which they eventually scored from. The momentum swung Pulse’s way and they got a two-goal advantage, but Annabel Roddy made an intercept which Dragons convert. They scored off their centre pass as well which level the scores once again at half-time.

Dragons made changes going into the second half as Hannah Leighton came on at centre, with Clare Jones moving to wing defence and Annabel Roddy moving back to her usual goal defence position.

Both teams started the quarter as they finished the last, clinical in attack and tight in defence. After narrowly missing the last intercept, Shaquanda Greene-Noel made sure the next one was hers and snatched the ball from Olivia Tchine’s clutch.

Annabel Roddy got a huge intercept to keep the momentum going Dragon’s way, but it wasn't converted.

Elle Rattu and Jayda Pechova entered the game at wing defence and goal defence for Pulse with half of the third quarter remaining. With the calls from the umpire against Dragons, Pulse manage to get a four-goal lead with four minutes remaining.

Ashleigh Dekker entered the court at centre for Pulse and Laura Rudland took the wing attack position for Dragons.

Greene-Noel got the crowd up and cheering again as she flew in the air and grabbed an intercept, which brought the scores back to two with 20 seconds to go. Tchine managed to squeeze in a final goal for Pulse as they took a three-goal advantage into the final quarter.

Pulse stole the first goal of the final quarter from Dragons as they forced the hosts to throw the ball over the back line. An offensive contact was called against Dekker, giving Dragons the ball back and they soon brought the scores back to within.

Greene-Noel flew for another intercept and managed to tip the ball out, stemming the London Pulse flow. Annabel Roddy followed suit and tipped the ball onto Sasha McDonald’s hands and off the back line for a Dragons throw-in.

Dragons level the scores and the intensity lifted in Cardiff, but neither team could break the flow as the game goes goal-for-goal and after a tight conclusion, the final whistle was blown and Pulse won by 3 goals.

Gilbert Player of the Match was Celtic Dragons GK Shaquanda Greene-Noel.

Match report provided by Team Bath.

You can watch the highlights from all the games in the VNSL 2022 season HERE. Buy tickets to support Celtic Dragons at their home games here and support London Pulse at their home ground by buying tickets here. Tickets for the Grand Final at the Copper Box on June 5 are now available here.

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