Time to top up your tan and pump up our tyres!

The club will be on Summer Break within the following dates:

Wednesday Sessions 
Last session Wednesday 17 July
Restart Wednesday 28 August

If you looked at our website lately you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve been very quiet – not the case though, honestly!

The club is as busy as ever, with the same amount of travel to fixtures, fun at training plus national and international representation by players in lots of disciplines.

We haven’t been able to post about these individually here purely due to lack of manpower, but if you follow us on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, you’ll always be up to date with the latest from DragonsHQ.

We love to interact with our followers so be sure to give us a Like or Subscribe next time one of our posts catches your eye. Our Social Media feeds are live-linked in the margin of this site, but to make it even easier, here they are just waiting to be clicked on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DundeeDragons

Twitter: www.twitter.com/DundeeDragons 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dundeedragons

We love receiving questions and emails from potential new members!

Usually they will always include at least one of these questions, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to re-post our FAQ’s page. Enjoy!

I’m not a full time wheelchair user, can I still come to your club? 

Absolutely! It doesn’t matter if you use a powerchair everyday or if you’re able-bodied; as long as you can push a manual wheelchair and you’re game for some fun, you’ll be welcome at Dragons. 

I read that you have able-bodied people on the team alongside disabled players. Can you tell me more about that? 

In the spirit of inclusivity, we don’t see why being able-bodied should stop someone from joining in with their friends or siblings and having fun playing team sport. 

The classification structure of our sports reflects this, with Wheelchair Basketball assigning a 5 point title to those players with no disability, and Wheelchair Rugby League’s rules stating that two able-bodied players are allowed on court per team at any one time.

 I’m the parent of a child with mobility problems. We encourage our child to use aids as little as possible, so I’d worry that participating in wheelchair sport would work against this, can you advise? 

Wheelchair Sport participants come from all walks of life, with all manner of conditions and abilities. We know from first hand experience that children who struggle to take part in running sport find that using a wheelchair to play sport serves only to empower them, helping their confidence and growing their self-belief. We also find that as their fitness and strength increase from participating in wheelchair sport, so too does their stamina for physiotherapy and activities of daily living. 

My condition is deteriorating and I’ve been trying to stay out of a wheelchair. I’m struggling with making the choice to use one for sport. 

Track athletes wear spikes to run, and kayakers need a paddle to get from a-b, so why look at a wheelchair as something different? It’s a piece of sporting equipment that enables the athlete using it to get the most out of their time on court. Give it a go and we’re sure you’ll look at it the same way. 

I’m used to watching Rugby on the TV, how does the sport you play differ from that?

Wheelchair sports like Basketball and Rugby League are merely adaptations of the “running” versions of these games. A lot of the referee calls, scoring structure and tactical decisions are exactly the same. Wheelchair Rugby is a little different from either the 13 or 15 a side running games; you can read more about it here.

How much does a sports wheelchair cost? 

As for any sport there are budget, middle and top of the range bespoke options when it comes to sports wheelchairs. Generally speaking most chairs cost around £1200, with that figure increasing to over £5000 for a bespoke rugby wheelchair.  

Is the hoop really 10ft off the ground in wheelchair basketball? 

Yes it is indeed, just like in the running version of the game. 

I’m not from Dundee, can I still be a member?

DDWSC has members from all over Tayside; including Perth and Kinross, South Fife and North Angus. We don’t mind where you live; if you’re up for the journey to Dundee, we’ll see you on the court!

Wheelchair Rugby! I saw that at the Paralympics. Isn’t that very rough? 

You’re right, there are some big hits in top flite wheelchair rugby, but really these aren’t what the sport is about, and just like in running rugby, any bruises you take from the field, or court in our case, are hard earned! 

I don’t own a sports wheelchair, can I still participate? 

We have a stock of club chairs which you are welcome to use during club activities.

We are aware of a girls football team in the Dundee area using the name “Dundee Dragons” but who are in no way affiliated with our charity.

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to communicate with this group, we can only try to make the situation as clear as possible when tagged in social media posts such as this one on our twitter account today.

Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club was established in Tayside in 2013, securing SCIO Charity Status in 2015.

We provide active Wheelchair Sports Opportunities to people of all ages and abilities from all across Tayside, and the name “Dundee Dragons” is by now synonymous with Disability Sport in the region.

We would ask all our members and supporters to be vigilant of this potential for confusion and to continue to make us aware of postings on social media etc that may mislead, especially in the context of fundraising and charitable donations.

DUNDEE DRAGONS WHEELCHAIR RUGBY LEAGUE v KEIGHLEY COUGARS

WRL PLATE SEMI-FINAL SUNDAY 10 JUNE 2018

DUNDEE AND ANGUS COLLEGE GARDYNE CAMPUS

Match Report by Kevin Rattray

The Dragons first home match of the season saw us facing our old friends Keighley Cougars, fourth match in 2 years, so the banter was strong in this one.

After our travel trials and tribulations in Keighley and Bradford in April it was fitting that Keighley would get lost, well not really Keighley, just Matthew and Alan who had the van and all the chairs, sometimes you should trust the sat nav!

Keighley arrived slightly depleted of playing numbers with only five to choose from, think that’s called Hobson’s choice, whereas the Dragons although missing Michael away on Invictus duty and a few of the juniors who may have played away doing basketball, Blair, or chair racing, Murran, it was still a strong Dragons team with several subs including yours truly Kevin “Father Ted” Rattray and Ian “Toon” Hall.

Dragons started with Jay Anderson, Ronny Robb, David Birtles, Stewart Squire and Stephen Carling making his first appearance of the season, and the two main subs of Mairi Simms and Gemma Lumsdaine.

Peter Lowis and Ollie Cruickshanks filled the match official positions, with Peter’s “Barra’s Rolex” discarded in favour of Ollies reliable timepiece keeping us all right, and Jen Muir taking up her, now accustomed position, to do the scoring and timekeeping.

A feature of the Dragons whether it is Basketball or Rugby is that we start quickly, only team I’ve ever been involved with that starts quickly, I’m putting the basketball down to Gemma’s comprehensive warm up and the rugby down to me not doing a comprehensive warm up.

Today was no exception the match kicked off and the Dragons were straight into the attack pinning Keighley back immediately and getting on the scoreboard very early by Stephen outpacing the defence, yes I know he does that to most defences, and scoring in the corner and converting his own try.

Dragons were in almost complete charge of possession for the first 20 minutes or so of the match with further tries from Ronny twice, Stewart and Stephen again with only one of the tries being converted.

Stewart then stepped aside to allow Mairi into the action, maybe stretch those hamstrings for next week Stewart?

What followed was probably the highlight of the match for me with Dragons playing some excellent sets and moving the ball through hands in a very impressive manner to the point where a position was created for Mairi to receive a scoring pass, her first competitive try for the club converted by Stephen.

Dragons continued to dominate the scoring with further tries by Ronny and Stephen interspersed with a Keighley drop goal and multiple sets where Cougars pinned us on our line for set after set, forcing multiple drop out restarts from under the posts.

The first half came to an end with the score now

Dundee Dragons 40 1 Keighley Cougars

The feeling was that the second half was going to be a much more competitive event with Keighley storming back into the game at the end of the first half signalling their intentions very clearly.

Then we were off and the game was now very competitive with set after set being defended vigorously and no quarter given.

The scoring chances were now down to a minimum with much of the action occurring more than four metres out from the goal lines.

Gemma was now introduced which was great to see as no one gives more in defence than Gemma, and was almost worked into a scoring position by Jay  but was shut down by Cougars excellent scramble defence.

The match rumbled on with some great defensive play resulting in spilled passes and punishing pressure  from both sides until a very astute kick by Keighley’s honorary man of Yorkshire resulted in a try in the corner and impressively converted from the touch line.

This stung the Dragons who responded almost immediately with a Stephen try and conversion, then defences took over again.

Final score of the match came from a Keighley penalty expertly slotted, why did you kick the penalty rather than play it out was asked, because I wanted to came the reply, not much you can say about that!

The match finished Dundee Dragons 46 9 Keighley Cougars

Every one then came together for food and drinks and lots of chat about rugby and any thing else we fancied, no subject too trivial from World Cup to Love Island.

While we did this the hall was dismantled expertly and in a blur by Ian Hall, Peter and Ollie, nothing these referees won’t do for the sport.

Great thanks to everyone involved Ian Hall what a grafter, Jen Muir no doubt you had the correct score, think Peter also had a “Barra’s” pencil and to the spectators who came along to support David and Stephen, bring a friend next time guys.

Learning points for Dragons

• Keep it simple
• Play out the sets
• Kick better
• Bring more food (Rugby guys can really eat)

DUNDEE DRAGONS V ST MIRREN WARRIORS

SCOTTISH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PLAY OFF FINAL

SATURDAY 12 MAY 2018 THE PEAK STIRLING 4PM TIP OFF

Match Report by Kevin Rattray

The starting five, as it was for the semi-final, was made up of Ben Leitch and Rhys Colliar, Gemma Lumsdaine and Blair Marshall and Michael Mellon still in the unusual position for him at point.

As before the bench was made up of Murran Mackay, Mairi Simms, Ronny Robb and making his debut John Willans, and Paula Leitch making the touchline decisions.

Dragons started the match very strong, this does seem to be a feature of our basketball matches, maybe need to have a word with our rugby players.

Ben was in the middle of everything we were doing well and when he was being closed down Blair was finding extra space to chip in with multiple baskets, although a few fouls saw him being replaced by Ronny towards the end of the first half, but he would return.

St Mirren were working so hard as the match progressed but Dragons defence was steadfast and proving very difficult to break down with Ben’s outrageous three pointer adding insult to injury.

The first period was dominated by Dragons but the second quarter saw Warriors up their game and draw closer although by half time the score was

Dundee Dragons 30 13 St Mirren Warrors

The second half saw multiple changes with John making his debut for Ben and Murran replacing Rhys.

Warriors sensed an opportunity and immediately introduced their top five players and a full court press which we pretty much found impossible to break down, inexperience was now adding to a complete turn around of fortunes with Warriors now completely in charge and the press was hugely effective, driven on by an almost apoplectic and hysterical Warriors bench

Dragons were now in complete meltdown with arguments, indecision and uncertainty turning the game from a seventeen-point lead into a six point lead.

The end of the third period came, Gemma got everyone together, changed the line-up and the game was back on.

Dragons came out to the final quarter with a renewed sense of purpose, the press was now less effective, and Ben was drawing 2 and 3 players to him.

This could only mean one thing there was space for everyone else, John got in on the scoring, his first in a competitive match, Blair was back on and into the scoring but the biggest cheers of the final period came for Rhys; two baskets, that boy works so hard at creating space and scoring opportunities for others it’s always so thrilling when he gets in on the scoring.

Dragons were now in complete control and the Warriors bench went strangely quiet, this may not make me sound classy but that felt good.

Michael concluded the scoring and celebration began as the match ended with the score

Dundee Dragons 54 : 33 St Mirren Warriors

What followed was great respect shown by all Dragons players to all Warriors players and vice versa, to be honest this is probably the thing about the sport that I find most compelling.

As with the semi-final I also want to draw attention to some phenomenal play by some St Mirren players, again not in a patronising way, but Sarah McCaffrey was quite exceptional with her movement and shooting skills.

David Hird, who within 10 minutes had accrued 4 fouls, then showed incredible discipline for the rest of the match to avoid any foul play but still make a huge contribution, particularly during the third period when he was instrumental in the comeback.

The season saw Dragons Senior Basketball team finish with a 100% Development League record, an impressive statistic in anyone’s language.

Next season will doubtless see changes in the team make up as we introduce new players and maybe lose players to bigger and better opportunities.

From my point of view this, my first full basketball season, has been filled with joy and excitement and a respect for everyone who plays, coaches and volunteers.

I’m going to produce a player retrospective later this week which hopefully everyone will enjoy, expect it to be slightly flippant but always complimentary.

Onwards into the new season 2018/2019 should be fun.

DUNDEE DRAGONS V GRAMPIAN FLYERS

SCOTTISH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

PLAY OFF SEMI-FINAL

SATURDAY 12 MAY 2018 THE PEAK STIRLING 10.30AM TIP OFF

Match Report by Kevin Rattray

Dragons arrived at the Peak with a heavy burden on their shoulders, a 100% record was going to be difficult to maintain as Grampian Flyers, Lothian Phoenix and St Mirren warriors had arrived with very strong squads and a determination to knock us down to earth.

Our first match, and a semi-final, was to be against our perennial rivals Grampian Flyers who we had narrowly defeated by 2 points only 2 weeks previously, a match I believe sent Sally and Paula into near heart failure with a final Flyers basket attempt coming back of the rim as the final hooter sounded.

Dragons match day squad saw us missing our first choice poin,t David Birtles, as well as Stephen Carling, Kevin Myers and the legend that is Ian “Toon” Hall.

The starting five was Ben Leitch and Rhys Colliar, Gemma Lumsdaine and Blair Marshall and Michael Mellon in the somewhat unusual position for him at point.

The bench was made up of Murran Mackay, Mairi Simms, Ronny Robb and making his debut John Willans, and Paula Leitch making the touchline decisions (ok Gemma was telling her what to do but still the pressure was palpable)

The match started at an intensity I frankly haven’t seen in any other Development League fixture this season, Flyers were here to win there could be no doubt about that.

Dragons started well with Ben getting the scoreboard ticking ably supported by Blair, but the Flyers stormed back at every opportunity matching us score for score and constantly disrupting Dragons attacking structures.

It was clear that there would not be many changes to the dragons line-up as the team worked as hard as they’ve ever had to and the fear was that too many changes would disrupt the shape and intensity of the team.

The first half came to an end with the dragons seven-point lead from the first quarter being maintained by a three pointer from Michael with the score sitting at

Dundee Dragons 25 18 Grampian Flyers

The second half saw Ronny introduced for Blair and Murran replacing Rhys.

The half started as the first half ended with Flyers throwing everything at the Dragons and Katie on the Flyers side-line imploring her side to give more, not sure how they could to be honest.

The 2 quarters went past in a blur with score after score, first Dragons then Flyers or Flyers then Dragons, my head was starting to spin to be honest so I turned to Paula to ask if it was like this at the previous match, no that was much worse, not sure how that could be!

Ben was still leading our scoring but Blair, Ronny and Michael were also getting in on the act.

I think I spent as much time looking at the clock to be honest, I’m sure it had come to a standstill but finally the time came the hooter went, yes! we had won with the score finishing

Dundee Dragons 51 44 Grampian Flyers

I really can’t emphasise enough about what a thrilling match this was and although I generally leave the other team to give credit to their players but as this was such a big match  I can’t disregard how excellent Flyers played, not in a patronising way, but Austin and Wayne really drove the Flyers forward and could not have done more for their team.

This was particularly apparent with the scoring as after Dragons quick start every period was then tied, phew!

For us Ben of course, but well supported by Blair, Michael playing out of position, our two guards Gemma and Rhys who do so much of that unglamorous work as well as Murran and Ronny bringing energy and movement into what was an absolute cauldron.

It was time to move onto the final against St Mirren warriors who had defeated Lothian Phoenix in the other semi-final.

DUNDEE DRAGONS V GRAMPIAN FLYERS

SCOTTISH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

SATURDAY 28 APRIL DUNDEE AND ANGUS COLLEGE GARDYNE CAMPUS 2018 

MATCH REPORT BY SALLY LUMSDAINE

This game was such a close run thing there was no time to draw breath never mind take pictures, one of the Flyers team captured this at the end though!

Dundee Dragons welcomed a strong Grampian Flyers team for the final game of the 2018 Scottish Development League. With a depleted side missing Michael, David and Gemma, Ian Hall was once again coerced into a playing top and he, along with Ben Leitch, Ronnie Rob, Murran McKay, Rhys Colliar, Mairi Simms and Blair Marshall made up the Dragon’s squad.

The game started with both teams being evenly matched, however Ben’s on-point shooting pulled Dragons into a early lead. Baskets followed from Blair and Ronnie, and the team in the early stages looked strong and in control. Substitutions were made to the Flyers squad with Grant Wilson and Austin McKenzie being brought on to create more shooting opportunities. With the addition of these threatening players the Dragons started to look rattled and nerves started to fray but the Dragon’s defence held strong and the score was 16 v 8 going into the second quarter.

The Flyers started strongly in the second quarter with Austin stepping up and converting any opportunities that came his way into points. The Dragons side fought back and baskets were traded either end. An excellent couple of baskets by Rachel Gilbert for the Flyers pulled their score up but these baskets were matched by Blair who, ably supported by Murran and Rhys, found his way into the key.

With no change to the Dragons’ squad at the start of the second half the match kicked off impressively with a lovely play by Ben, Ronnie and Blair that resulted in an early basket. As the game went on Mairi Simms was subbed in and took her position within the Dragon’s defence. With another change of players by Flyers the intensity of the game began to increase and Ben started to find his every move stifled by the Flyers defence.  The Flyers were now playing with a real determination and were pressuring the ball at every opportunity. Coach Paula called a much needed time-out just before the end of the quarter to calm the Dragons down whilst Coach Fraser Govan on the Flyers side was whipping his payers up sensing a change of fortune.

The Flyers started the fourth quarter with a fierceness that challenged the Dragons from the start. The tension at this point was almost unbearable as the Flyers found their rhythm and started scoring basket after basket. With Wayne, Austin and Grant all pressuring Ben, the Dragons team started to feel the pressure and as Murran got quieter Ronnie got more vocal. This didn’t go unnoticed by the experienced reffing duo of Kenny Sanford and Garry Godsell,  but thankfully, and much to his credit, Ronnie kept his head and played on. With Ben being hussled at every turn the rest of the team had to step up and Blair, Rhys, Ronnie and Murran held on and fought hard to keep the lead that was slowly slipping away.

With the seconds counting down the atmosphere was electric. Coach Fraser Govan was jumping up and down willing his team on whilst coach Paula was nervously calling out instructions from the bench. In the final two minutes time-outs were called, Ben was keeping the Dragons team calm and focussed whilst Fraser, sensing victory for the Flyers, was plotting ways to just tip the scales in their favour. With 9 seconds to go there was just 2 points in it. Ben tried to hold the ball but was overpowered and with 3 seconds to go Flyers had the chance to go even with an inbound ball at their basket. Austin received the ball, took the shot and as it ricocheted off the rim the buzzer went much to the relief of the Dragons players, bench and supporters. Both teams had played their hearts out and the game ended Dundee Dragons 48 v 46 Grampian Flyers.