Netball Super League | Massive game against Dragons after frustrating results, says Stars shooter Rowe

Severn Stars shooter Georgia Rowe says the upcoming fixture against her former club Celtic Dragons is “massive” after the frustration the team has felt over recent results.

The Severn Stars face their third game in eight days as they take on Celtic Dragons on Saturday (March 30, 4pm), away in Wales.

After tough defeats to two of the top five sides, Stars will be looking to get their season back on track with a win at the Sport Wales National Centre.

“This game is a massive one for us as we beat Dragons the first time around so we know a win is there for us to take,” said Rowe, who was one of two players to move from the Welsh club ahead of this Superleague season. “We have been massively disappointed and dissatisfied with some of our results and I personally think, looking at our team, that we should be higher up in the table. We have shown we can compete against any team so there is definitely frustration there and we will be taking that frustration out on Dragons and ensuring we put out a good performance.”

However, she said she was expecting a tough match. “Dragons are a physical side and have shown real determination in their last few games,” said Rowe. “They are not a team who will give up and will pressure us right until the final whistle.

“They have strength all through the court so we need to be really smart in how we play and bring the ball through. We know we have a strong defensive unit that is guaranteed to win ball and we have been working really hard to retain possession and make good decisions under pressure so we will be making sure that’s a real focus against Dragons. We’ve got to be prepared to put our bodies on the line and work hard for each other.”

Last Saturday (March 23) Stars fought back from an eight goal deficit in the fourth quarter to draw level and then take the lead against Loughborough Lightning. But they ended up losing to a last gasp goal with 20 seconds on the clock, 53-54.

Then, on Monday (March 25), they were on the road at Team Bath for a postponed fixture. Although able to keep within touching distance for the first three quarters, ultimately in the last 15 minutes the opposition pulled away for a 53-43 win.

Despite these results, the atmosphere among the Stars camp, Rowe said, remains upbeat.

She added: “We are still all pushing each other for that starting bib, which is great and means that our training sessions have been competitive and exciting. We have put out some winning performances this season but at times have fallen short. We’re confident that we have the ability to push through against Dragons and take the win.”

In the remaining games of the season Rowe says she wants to see the team push on for more wins. “I know it’s important to not focus on the score and to strive for good performances but we don’t train five days a week to lose and what us as players really want is to win,” she said. “We know we are capable, but it’s down to us and we will continue to work hard.

“On more of a personal level, I am loving my time at Stars. I am really enjoying learning from some top players and feel grateful that I am being coached by such awesome coaching staff. I feel the training is a step up from previous years and I am loving the challenge and believe I’ve really needed to be pushed and I’ve needed to be in an environment that would bring me out of my comfort zone and Stars definitely has and still continues to do that.”

Tickets for the Severn Stars home games, including Strathclyde Sirens, at the University of Gloucestershire Arena, on April 6, can be purchased via www.ticketline.co.uk/netball-superleague-severn-stars#bio.

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