
Dragons edge Panthers for first win of the season
Cardiff Dragons claimed their first win of the Netball Super League season as they beat Birmingham Panthers on Friday.Having started the campaign with seven straight losses, the Dragons overcame a narrow half-time deficit to secure a 61-57 victory at the Skydome Arena.The Panthers led 34-32 at midway point and were still a point up at the end of the third quarter.It was level at 57-57 with five minutes remaining but the Dragons edged ahead through goal attack Phillipa Yarranton and she added a super shot to extend the lead.Goal shooter Georgia Rowe, who top-scored for the Dragons with 39 goals, wrapped up the win for the Super League's last-place side.The Panthers had a marginally better shooting success rate, 86% to the Dragons' 85%, with Sigi Burger scoring 46 goals, but were outshot 67 to 55 by the visitors.Dragons are now just four points behind Panthers in seventh.
Fixtures and results
Friday, 9 MayBirmingham Panthers 57-61 Cardiff DragonsSaturday, 10 MayLoughborough Lightning v Leeds Rhinos (18:00, BBC Red Button and iPlayer)Sunday, 11 MayNottingham Forest v Manchester Thunder (16:00)London Mavericks v London Pulse (16:00)All times BST.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Denbigh hockey player 'in limbo' after head struck by ball
"I understand there is an element of risk in hockey, but surely a brain injury must trigger some help?"Claerwen Render, 42, loved sports but her life changed when she was hit on the forehead by a hockey ball five years mother-of-three has suffered daily migraines and fatigue since and has seen her income halve after giving up her role as a member of a secondary school's senior leadership after being refused an insurance payout through her sport's governing body, she has been left questioning if affiliation payments are worth Cymru said it had developed their approach to head injuries but that more needed to happen to explain the limitations of insurance cover. Mrs Render was playing for Clwb Hoci Rhuthun in Denbighshire in November 2019 when she was caught on the temple by a ball struck by an opposing badly, she was taken by ambulance to the nearest A&E the next few months she tried to return to the classroom as a maths teacher, but struggled to cope."I'm not getting half my old life back. I'm just in limbo, in pain," said Mrs Render."I can't do anything. It really affects my sleep. I've taken time off work but no amount of rest gets rid of my symptoms. It's debilitating."I can't do normal things like before. I can't enjoy going to the kids' activities. If I stay I suffer, or I'll go to work in more pain and I have to go to bed." Nine months after the incident, Mrs Render, from Denbigh, made an insurance claim through her Hoci Cymru membership but said her application did not trigger any now works four mornings a week having been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome."Why have I paid 15 years of affiliation and insurance? It was for something like this," said Mrs Render."I understand there is an element of risk, but surely a brain injury must trigger something? Are we just paying into a bottomless pit?"I'm just disappointed that I'm not compensated for loss of earnings, the future of my kids, everything."One sports lawyer said few players were fully aware of the level of cover they have for head injuries."No-one signs up to play these sports to get permanent and progressive brain damage and a very high number of sports men and women, we believe, have that," said Richard Boardman, from law firm Rylands Garth. "It is critical that all grassroots players know about the risks involved in collision sports, and whether they are covered for brain injuries," Mr Boardman Morris from brain injury charity Headway, stressed the health and social benefits of sports, including brain health, but also said players needed to be aware of how insurance cover works."It is something that governing bodies and insurers need to be transparent with and really convey to people what circumstances they wouldn't be covered."So people can take out further insurance if they need to, protection against loss of income for example," he said. Hoci Cymru's concussion policy was first introduced in 2021. Its chief executive, Paul Whapham, said they could not comment on individual insurance cases but acknowledged the "very real impact" Mrs Render's injury had and took her concerns "seriously"."This situation highlights the importance of clear communication and transparency around insurance coverage," said Mr added Hoci Cymru's approach to head injuries had developed but there was "always more" to be done so players "understand the extent and limitations of cover provided through affiliation"."We are committed to working with our insurers, our clubs and partners to ensure that policies are clear, fair and supportive of our players' wellbeing," Mr Whapham said.

Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
The best year of my life – Craig Bellamy relishing unbeaten start as Wales boss
Bellamy remains undefeated after nine games – five wins and four draws – and the Welsh record of 10 matches unbeaten, set under Mark Hughes between 2001 and 2003, will be equalled by avoiding defeat in Brussels. The Group J qualifier at the King Baudouin Stadium will be the final fixture of Bellamy's first 12 months in the job after his appointment last summer. 'It would be a huge push (to win for qualification). But whatever it will be, it rolls on if we get beat,' said Bellamy. 'But it's going to happen. Do I live in fear of it? Not at all. I don't live that way. 'I've had so many setbacks in my life, it's OK. I'm still here. And I've actually just had the best year of my life. This has been the best. 'How did I get that at 45? It's what I've been waiting for but, at the same time, it's like I don't know what's around the corner. I don't. 'But I know what I'm going to do. Enjoy everything. The good, the bad, whatever it is. 'Maybe I look too deep into stuff or maybe not. I try not to. But we're here for a tiny, short time.' Group leaders Wales are six points clear of Belgium after beating Liechtenstein 3-0 on Friday. The Dragons have taken seven points from their first three qualifiers, while Belgium began their campaign with a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Friday. That six-point gap has put early pressure on Belgium, who have won only one of their last eight games and are under new management in former Napoli and Lyon boss Rudi Garcia. Bellamy, however, has played down what protecting Wales' unbeaten record against Belgium – eighth on the FIFA world rankings – would mean to him. Gweithio'n galed am Gwlad Belg 💪 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 8, 2025 'It's always nice, but I don't live waking up every morning thinking like, 'oh, please, don't lose this',' said Bellamy. 'No. Play well. We've done everything we could. That's the honest truth. 'This week's been top. And it's been top since I've just loved every moment because they train, they work, they show up, and to have that is amazing. 'I don't to have say, 'that wasn't good enough, no, we need to be sharper'. Never once I had to. So they give you energy.' Wales are again without Leeds winger Daniel James, who has failed to recover from illness after missing the Liechtenstein win. Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams also misses out after rolling his ankle against Liechtenstein. Bellamy said: 'Dan just couldn't recover from his illness. It knocked him back a bit. It's a shame but it's OK. 'We'd love Neco, we'd have loved everyone, but we don't have them.' 'I've never once moaned about it before and I'm not going to start now. We have good enough players. 'Of course we'd like them but they're not going to be here. Let's make sure they're in a good position for when they come back.' Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor has been called in as cover for Williams.


Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
The best year of my life – Craig Bellamy relishing unbeaten start as Wales boss
Bellamy remains undefeated after nine games – five wins and four draws – and the Welsh record of 10 matches unbeaten, set under Mark Hughes between 2001 and 2003, will be equalled by avoiding defeat in Brussels. The Group J qualifier at the King Baudouin Stadium will be the final fixture of Bellamy's first 12 months in the job after his appointment last summer. Craig Bellamy pictured at a Wales training session ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Belgium (David Davies/PA) 'It would be a huge push (to win for qualification). But whatever it will be, it rolls on if we get beat,' said Bellamy. 'But it's going to happen. Do I live in fear of it? Not at all. I don't live that way. 'I've had so many setbacks in my life, it's OK. I'm still here. And I've actually just had the best year of my life. This has been the best. 'How did I get that at 45? It's what I've been waiting for but, at the same time, it's like I don't know what's around the corner. I don't. 'But I know what I'm going to do. Enjoy everything. The good, the bad, whatever it is. 'Maybe I look too deep into stuff or maybe not. I try not to. But we're here for a tiny, short time.' Group leaders Wales are six points clear of Belgium after beating Liechtenstein 3-0 on Friday. The Dragons have taken seven points from their first three qualifiers, while Belgium began their campaign with a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Friday. That six-point gap has put early pressure on Belgium, who have won only one of their last eight games and are under new management in former Napoli and Lyon boss Rudi Garcia. Bellamy, however, has played down what protecting Wales' unbeaten record against Belgium – eighth on the FIFA world rankings – would mean to him. Gweithio'n galed am Gwlad Belg 💪 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 8, 2025 'It's always nice, but I don't live waking up every morning thinking like, 'oh, please, don't lose this',' said Bellamy. 'No. Play well. We've done everything we could. That's the honest truth. 'This week's been top. And it's been top since I've just loved every moment because they train, they work, they show up, and to have that is amazing. 'I don't to have say, 'that wasn't good enough, no, we need to be sharper'. Never once I had to. So they give you energy.' Wales are again without Leeds winger Daniel James, who has failed to recover from illness after missing the Liechtenstein win. Daniel James again misses out for Wales in Belgium through illness (David Davies/PA) Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams also misses out after rolling his ankle against Liechtenstein. Bellamy said: 'Dan just couldn't recover from his illness. It knocked him back a bit. It's a shame but it's OK. 'We'd love Neco, we'd have loved everyone, but we don't have them.' 'I've never once moaned about it before and I'm not going to start now. We have good enough players. 'Of course we'd like them but they're not going to be here. Let's make sure they're in a good position for when they come back.' Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor has been called in as cover for Williams.