Panthers Leopards opened their WPB Friendly League campaign with a gritty, hard‑earned win against CD Phoenix in a match that was tightly contested from start to finish. Both teams brought intensity, making it a brilliant season opener and a great test for the squad.

Leopards started strongly in Q1, taking a narrow lead through composed play and disciplined connections. Phoenix responded well in Q2, pulling the score back and challenging our structures. By the end of Q3, we found ourselves two goals down, but the girls regrouped with real purpose before the final quarter.

Q4 was where the shift happened. A sharp, focused start saw Leopards put seven goals on the bounce, flipping the momentum entirely. Phoenix pushed hard right to the final whistle, but the girls worked tirelessly to grind out the first win of the season — a performance built on resilience, discipline, and collective effort.

The defensive pressure we spoke about pre‑game was evident throughout, with great contesting and turnover creation. We do, however, need to tighten up our across‑court tracking when running man‑on — an area to refine going forward. Shooting accuracy was another standout, rewarding the defensive work behind it. Ball placement and coming forward onto the ball were more inconsistent, but when we settled and played *our* game, we looked composed, connected, and confident.

Most importantly, it was fantastic to see the team come out fighting from the very first whistle — a brilliant tone to set for the season.

**Opposition POM – Chloe**
- Tireless work rate on and off the ball, consistently available, consistently disruptive, and a huge presence across the game.

**Coaches POM – Chloe**
- For exactly the same reasons — relentless effort, smart movement, and leadership through action.

**Coaches POM (Defence) – Lola**
- Excellent discipline in bringing the ball safely down the court, strong decision‑making, and calm control under pressure.

A strong start, a strong statement, and plenty to build on. The Leopards are up and running for the 26/27 WPB Friendly League season — and this opener showed just how much potential this squad has.