NSL 2024: MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF DRAGONS v LONDON PULSE
By Paul Prenderville
Sam Bird had demanded a more consistent attacking performance from London Pulse in Round 7, and they delivered a brilliant all-round display to beat Cardiff Dragons in South Wales on Saturday night.
A clinical first half, with a relentless team defence, limited Dragons to just 13 goals and established a 16-goal half-time lead at House of Sport and the players in Black and Pink never looked back as they recorded a 52-37 victory, much to the delight of the head coach.
Bird watched on as trademark defensive brilliance was combined with improved efficiency through the court for a win that keeps them fourth in the Superleague table and more importantly denied Dragons the chance to move into the top four places.
“It was just about disrupting Cardiff Dragons, and we came here to do that and for the whole game the message was the same from Fi [Murtagh] and I,” Bird told BBC Sport.
“That was step up, shut down, make them feel really uncomfortable on the ball and then our attack was really good. It’s really pleasing to see the block of attack work we’ve done has really sunk in.”
Both teams were pushed to the limit in their last game, Dragons sneaking a two-goal win over Severn Stars and Pulse holding on for a victory over Leeds Rhinos by the same margin but it was a different story this weekend.
This result means Pulse have claimed back-to back wins and are set up well for a three-game run in front of their own fans, starting with Strathclyde Sirens in Round 8 on Friday night.
And Bird was delighted with the team’s performance, particularly a more fluid display in possession.
“I thought Berri and Liss started really strong and connected well with Liv. It was smooth, the timing was good and it felt like it was London Pulse as we should be.
“We have had some challenges and I think the squad has responded really well to that this week. When it goes well it’s beautiful netball.
“This Cardiff side is good and we had to play at the level we did to assert ourselves on the game and we were able to do that really well.”
STORY OF THE GAME
A dominant first quarter from Pulse will have pleased Bird who had said earlier this week that the team were working on taking care of possession and profiting from the defence’s hard work and they were at it from the start.
With scores even midway through the opening 15 minutes, Halimat Adio and Funmi Fadoju had already served notice of their strengths by winning key ball. As the quarter wore on the attacking transition was delivering too as a five-goal run established a lead for Pulse that they would never relinquish. With defence winning constant ball, Alicia Scholes was able to link play effectively and a dominant quarter was reflected in an eight-goal lead.
Q1: Cardiff Dragons 7-15 London Pulse
Having entered the second quarter with a big advantage, Pulse wasted little time in pushing on. Hannah Passmore has enjoyed an impressive season but the pressure applied by Pulse was keeping the hosts below 75% in shooting percentage.
At the other end of the court, Berri Neil’s movement was freeing space for Olivia Tchine to stay near perfect under the posts. The final minutes of the quarter were executed brilliantly as Pulse took their pick ups, deflections and gains total to 25 as Neil and Olivia Tchine finished off a stream of brilliant work from Adio, Izzi Phillips and Fadoju. Dragons claimed the final goal of the quarter but only after a nine-goal unanswered run from Pulse.
Q2: Cardiff Dragons 12-29 London Pulse (5-14)
Cheered on by their home crowd, Dragons put together a more consistent quarter as the teams went goal for goal – Zara Everitt dictating play from Wing Defence.
Scholes and Neil had time to enjoy themselves with some neat link-up play, and at the other end Fadoju continued to pick off an improved Dragons attacking unit just when they looked to put together a run.
As Pulse kept the hosts at arm’s length, Brie Grierson was introduced after an impressive stint from Scholes in the Wing Attack bib, and Bird would look to her bench with a strong lead in place.
Q3: Cardiff Dragons 25-40 London Pulse (12-11)
Jeresia McEachrane, Darcie Everitt, Nichole Taljaard and Jada Autumn all came onto the court during the course of the final quarter; a chance for valuable minutes into players but also a look at combinations that could prove vital over the rest of the season.
A slightly disjointed final 15 minutes for Pulse, allowed Dragons to take an element of control with Georgia Rowe missing just two of her 23 shots, following her half-time introduction.
There was still plenty for Bird to think about down the stretch as the home side won the final quarter, but the hard work had already been done in an excellent display that set up a satisfying victory.
Q4: Cardiff Dragons 37-52 London Pulse (13-12)
Player of the Match – Funmi Fadoju.
Starting 7s
Pulse: GK – Adio; GD – Fadoju; WD – Z Everitt; C – Phillips; WA – Scholes; GA – Neil; GS – Tchine. Bench – D Everitt, McEachrane, Autumn, Grierson, Taljaard.
Dragons: GK – Middleton; GD – Newton; WD – Jones; C – McDonald; WA – Chawane; GA – Yarranton; GS – Passmore. Bench – Kuti, Howells, Ecuyer-Dale, Rudland, Rowe.
ROUND 7 RESULTS
Friday – Saracens Mavericks 56-58 Severn Stars
Friday – Strathclyde Sirens 36-72 Loughborough Lightning
Friday – Leeds Rhinos 64-60 Surrey Storm
Saturday – Manchester Thunder 79-42 Team Bath