It was the final normal round of the UK’s Netball Super League this weekend, and for Dragons, Rhinos, Bath, Sirens and Mavericks that meant it was their last game of the season as they failed to make the Semi-Finals.
The season ended on a real high for Mavericks, who beat the league leaders and Semi-Finalists, Pulse, ending their 13-match unbeaten streak.
Here are just some of the international players that made an impact in Round 20:
Dragons 59 – 59 Rhinos
With neither Dragons or Rhinos making the finals, this was both teams last match of the season and it was clear from the off that both sides wanted to take win as they battled for every ball until the contest eventually ended in a draw.
Welsh Feather Nia Jones made the first interception of the game allowing Rhino’s to hit the ground running as they took a 2-0 lead.
However, it was not long until Dragons began to fight back lead by their own Welsh Feather, Ella Powell-Davies, who began to make a real impact in defence helping her side get back into the game and bring the scoreline eventually back to 13-13 before the home side took a 16-15 lead into the break.
The remaining three quarters promised much of the same, with the defensive pressure at times proving too much for both teams as the score continued to remain close.
Another stand-out defender who played their part in ensuring their team stayed within touch of vicotory was Trinidad & Tobago’s Shaquanda Greene-Noel, who made a brilliant interception in the penultimate quarter to throw the visitors off again.
The battle continued down to the dying seconds, with retired England Rose Rachel Dunn scoring the final goal of the game for Dragons to leave it all tied up.
Lightning 82 – 57 Bath
For Bath, this was their last game of the season, however for Lightning things were far from over as they still had their semi-final to play and a win against Bath would mean that would be played in front of their home crowd.
The Lightning defensive line-up of England Rose’s Fran Williams and Alice Harvey forced early errors from Bath, as they left the visitors little to no room as they took an early lead.
Speaking on England Rose’s Lightning then brought on another Rose, Beth Cobden, who was making her return to netball following a long spell on the side-lines due to injury.As soon as Cobden entered the court at wing defence, she made an instant impact and it was as though she had never been away as she made one interception, two deflections and two turnovers.
The domination of Lightning’s defence continued throughout the match, until they won the game 82-57 securing the home Semi-Final spot against reigning champions Manchester Thunder.
Sirens 40 – 61 Thunder
Also preparing for a Semi-Final was Manchester Thunder, and they wasted no time against Sirens as they applied the pressure from the first whistle.
Thunder were able to score 7 goals before the home side were even able to net one, Scottish Thistle Bethan Goodwin eventually scored the first goal for Sirens to kick-start their game, but it was too little too late for the first quarter as Thunder took an early 8-18 lead.
Sirens came back out fighting in the second quarter, fired on by their home crowd, giving it everything they had to get back into this clash with the current champions.
Malawi Queen, Towera Vinkhumbo, made her presence known for Sirens as she made seven more interceptions disrupting Thunders flow as the home side lost this quarter by just one goal, compared to ten in the first.
Thunder responded to Siren’s second half display in the penultimate quarter by bringing on their SPAR Protea shooter Lenize Potgieter, who scored at the first time of asking to get her side back on track.
From then on Thunder continued to go from strength to strength as they won their final league match of the season, before the Semi-Final, 40-61.
Pulse 46 – 52 Mavericks
It might be Pulse who have finished the season top of the league, with a Semi-Final lined up against Surrey Storm, but it was Mavericks that were able to celebrate in Round 20.
The table toppers Pulse got off to a strong start, as you would’ve expected, taking a 6-2 lead, however Mavericks, powered by their defensive duo of South Africa SPAR Protea Monique Meyer and Razia Quashie, soon pulled the score back to be one in their favour at the first break.
In the second quarter Mavericks were then on a mission to end Pulses’ 13-match winning streak, and also to give England Rose, Sasha Corbin the send-off she deserved as she announced this would be her last match before retirement.
Mavericks won the quarter 11-15, with Corbin a key part of their attacking line-up at wing-attack. Throughout the match Corbin made 40 feeds into the circle making sure her shooters got the balls they needed to keep her side ahead.
Pulse responded with some changes in the third quarter, but it just was not to be for the home side as Mavericks seemed to have an answer for everything and appeared to be the more clinical side on the day.
