Carnegie slay Dragons

Leeds Carnegie opened their 2011 Fiat Superleague campaign with an impressive 53-42 win against the Cardiff based Celtic Dragons, a result they then replicated with a 49-37 victory over Leyton less than 24 hours later in National League Premier 1 to maintain their resurgence in that competition. 

There has been an extended off-season of eight months for Superleague with the previous season finishing in May and Leeds have been using the lesser Premier 1 league as preparation. Despite improving performances leading up the start of Superleague, Carnegie are a team tipped for mediocrity due mainly to the loss of their best player and last season's player of the year Carla Diziwoki, as well as the effervescent defender Afrika Morris, whom they have replaced with England Youth players.

Even the Franchise management seem to harbour little confidence in the team's ability to compete in this Superleague season reflected by their refusal to pay the required cost to host home games on Sky Sports.

However an eleven goal win after a five hour coach journey, with three teenagers on court suggests Carnegie are a team full of potential and capable of much more than expected. They overcame a physical Dragons team and lead every quarter, with their defence- who have at times been the team's most glaring weakness- frustrating the Cardiff team's 6'7 shooter.

The win was even more impressive as head coach Anna Carter was absent on maternity leave, leaving assistant coach Lisa Ferneyhough to take charge of her first ever Superleague game.