Photo Credit: Ben Lumley
Round 11 of the Netball Super League (NSL) was one of defensive dominance with Australia’s Charli Fidler, England’s Tash Pavelin, Wales’s Leah Middleton and South Africa’s Nicola Smith amongst those that shone.
International fans can catch up on all the match on NetballPass* now.
Here is this week’s International Player Watch:
Birmingham Panthers vs Loughborough Lightning
This top vs bottom clash between Birmingham Panthers and Loughborough Lightning was a match of two halves, with Panthers starting the strongest and Lightning coming back to strike them down in the second half.
At the main break bottom of the table Panthers found themselves with a 33 – 31 lead, with Australia’s Charli Fidler impressing as she made six gains and five rebounds in arguably Panthers best performance of the season.
However, showing their championship qualities Lightning bounced back in the penultimate quarter adding 45 points to their tally in the remainder of the match as England’s Ella Clarke scored 14 goals and three Amex Super Shots to help her side to a 60 – 76 victory.
You can catch up on this match on NetballPass*, here.
Nottingham Forest vs London Mavericks
Nottingham Forest increased their chances of making the Soft & Gentle Play-Offs after they beat rivals London Mavericks 57 – 49.
Forest’s England Rose defensive duo of Tash Pavelin and Jayda Pechová were unstoppable in this one as Pavelin made three deflections and four gains and Pechová made eight deflections.
The home side are now just one win away from securing their spot in the Soft & Gentle Play-Offs.
You can catch up on this match on NetballPass*, here.
LexisNexis Dragons vs NIC Leeds Rhinos
It was back-to-back victories form LexisNexis Dragons as they beat NIC Leeds Rhinos 68 – 62.
Welsh Feather Leah Middleton was a force to be reckoned with in defence for Dragons as she made six gains and was awarded the Experience Kissimmee Player of the Match Award.
Another Welsh Feather that shone was Georgia Rowe, as she helped her team pull five goals ahead in the final quarter after scoring 12 goals in just 15 minutes, this took her match scoring tally up to 45.
Rowe has now scored 291 goals this season, putting her 5th in the leagues goals scored charts.
You can catch up on this match on NetballPass*, here.
AO Manchester Thunder vs London Pulse
AO Manchester Thunder leapfrogged London Pulse in the table this weekend to take the 2nd place spot, after they beat them 64 – 52 at the home of the Netball World Cup 2019, the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool.
Thunder stuck Pulse down early on, taking a 13 goal lead into the main break, and they were then able to withstand a Pulse come back in the second half to ensure they took all the points.
Keeping with the theme of dominant defenders this round, South Africa SPAR Protea Nicola Smith was crucial to this victory as she gave Pulse’s England Rose heavy attacking line up no room to breathe, with nine gains and seven interceptions, before being awarded the Experience Kissimmee Player of the Match award.
You can catch up on this match on NetballPass*, here.
Head to NetballPass now to catch up on all the action, ahead of Round 12 which starts on Friday 15th May.
To view all the fixtures, results, where to watch information and more visit our Netball Super League page, here.
*Restrictions are in place – *Viewers in the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, France and Poland will not be able to watch via NetballPass. Those in the UK will be able to watch all games across Sky Sports and BBC Sport, with more information here.