The Vitality Netball Superleague reached Round 12 this week, with Team Bath facing a double-header weekend.
We’ve highlighted just some of those international stars who stood out for their teams this week…
Surrey Storm 41 – 66 Team Bath
Round 12 began with a dominant Team Bath display, with Team Bath victorious in each quarter of the match, eventually beating Storm by a 25-goal margin. This ends Storms winning streak having won their previous four matches.
Team Bath showed their class at both ends of the court with Australian Diamond Kim Borger scoring 41 goals, missing just three shots throughout the match. Meanwhile, in the defensive circle, England Rose Layla Guscoth yet again showed why she is sat in 3rd place in the leagues Turnover Chart, with seven turnovers and four interceptions during the match.
Saracens Mavericks 55 – 46 Celtic Dragons
Next up in Round 12 saw Mavericks secure their second league victory in a row against a competitive Celtic Dragons team. Mavericks only won one quarter during the match, which was the second quarter, however it was by a margin of ten goals. The game turned when Dragon’s brought off Trinidad and Tobago and Celtic Dragon’s defender, Greene-Noel, who had been putting Mavericks shooter Brittany Clarke under immense pressure, with two intercepts, two deflections and three turnovers during the match. In the final quarter Mavericks demonstrated the depth of talent in their squad as they brought on England Rose Gabby Marshall to seal their win.
Manchester Thunder 73 – 53 Severn Stars
Manchester Thunder continued their impressive form, claiming their 12th successive Super League victory.
Thunder’s attack dominated proceedings yet again, with Malawi international, Joyce Mvula, and England Rose, Eleanor Cardwell, dominating the circle. They both now sit in the top five of the league’s Most Goals Scored Chart.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the court for Thunder, both goal keeper Kerry Almond and goal defence Shadine van der Merwe (South Africa SPAR Protea) each grabbed five intercepts and turnovers throughout the game, with the latter being named Player of the Match.
Leeds Rhinos 44 – 60 Strathclyde Sirens
Leeds Rhinos took to court at the Allam Sports Centre in Hull for the first time this season, with both sides fighting for three points after defeats in their last run outs. Scottish Thistle and Sirens goal shooter, Bethan Goodwin, dominated from under the post from the outset and was superbly fed by Player of the Match Bethany Dix throughout, with Sirens racing into a 16-6 lead at half-time.
However, Rhinos ended the match well with Sigrid Burger (South Africa SPAR Protea) scoring 34 goals during the match and missing just two, however Siren’s impact on the game during the first two quarters was too much for Rhino’s to overturn.
Team Bath 62 – 41 London Pulse
The final match of Round 12 saw Team Bath compete in their second match of the round against London Pulse, and victory has brought them back into contention for a top-four spot.
Despite a blip in quarter two, Team Bath dominated throughout with their defensive duo of England Rose Layla Guscoth and South Africa SPAR Protea Phumza Maweni achieving ten turnovers, eight deflections and ten interceptions between them. Layla Guscoth has also claimed 1st place in the league’s Most Intercepts Chart.
Team Bath now sit in 3rd place in the table, London Pulse in 4th and Saracen Mavericks in 5th, all on 21 points, as the battle for semi-final places intensifies.
Coming up…
The next round of the VNSL will start on the 16th April as all teams had to Birmingham for the Spring Showdown, and you can view the fixtures here.
To find out more about leagues taking place in other World Netball Regions this season, visit our Domestic League page here.
