IN a new article for the 2022 Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) season, Rookie Me Central will take a look at Club Power Rankings. The rankings will focus on goal difference (starting with last season’s goal difference) to predict the results in each match. Then, from the actual results, teams will either gain or lose points if they achieved the predicted goal difference. Naturally as teams win by more, the expected goal difference will increase, and vice-versa for the losers. The first three rounds (so each team has at least two matches) will focus on last year’s goal difference, before moving onto the 2022 numbers.

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ROUND 3 POWER RANKINGS

#1 Manchester Thunder (-)

The top-ranked side remain on top despite marginally missing out on clearing the line against Surrey Storm. The predicted result was +11.5, and with the eight-goal difference, the Thunder dropped back 3.5 points. In saying that, the Thunder remain almost five points clear of Loughborough Lightning, though have had an extra game gaining more points.

#2 Loughborough Lightning (-)

The reigning premiers made a real charge towards top spot with a dominant win over Celtic Dragons in Round 3. Though the Lightning were staring down a 16.6-goal difference, Loughborough cleared it with ease to win by a massive 28 goals and gain 11.4 points, to draw within five of top spot.

#3 Team Bath (+1)

A big win over Leeds Rhinos was just what the doctor ordered for Team Bath, moving up to third spot on the overall tally despite the fourth-placed Mavericks remaining undefeated. The reason being, that the Blue and Gold side was tipped to win by roughly four goals, and instead won by 20 (67-47). That saw them move to 23.65 overall and within striking distance of the top two.

#4 Saracens Mavericks (-1)

The Mavericks had a thrilling win over London Pulse to remain undefeated and actually gained points, but the massive win by Team Bath saw the Mavericks slip back a place. They still sit comfortably inside the top six, and will likely benefit from wins against contenders in the coming rounds.

#5 London Pulse (-)

After charging up the table to fifth following Round 1 and 2, London Pulse remained stable in fifth. Dropping a very marginal 25th of a point after the loss to Mavericks, the Pulse are still more than five points clear of the sixth placed Strathclyde Sirens.

#6 Strathclyde Sirens (+1)

The Sirens benefit from a huge Rhinos loss by moving up to sixth on the Power Rankings. Though the Sirens narrowly lost to the Rhinos, they hardly lost a beat, and the big 15-point deficit that the Rhinos coughed up in defeat to Team Bath saw them tumble back to seventh.

#7 Leeds Rhinos (-1)

After marginally gaining the slightest of buffers further on the Sirens following an opening game win on Friday night, the Rhinos were outclassed by Bath, and dropped 15.625 points to slip to seventh overall. They came perilously close to dropping another spot, with the seventh through 10th teams very close.

#8 Wasps Netball (+1)

After back-to-back losses in Round 1 and 2, Wasps Netball regained some form with a nine-goal win over Severn Stars. The 1.5-point difference was enough to be the difference, as the Stars sat just above them. Making it an overall three-point swing, Wasps grabbed eighth spot, and came very close to snatching seventh as well.

#9 Severn Stars (-1)

Conceded eighth spot after the loss to the Wasps, but with a good win could easily jump as high as seventh. There is not much between the sides after three rounds, and the seventh through 10th sides have just 2.5 points difference between them.

#10 Surrey Storm (-)

Not moving from 10th but gaining a bit of ground with a spirited effort against Manchester Thunder, the Storm have closed in on the teams above them. They might be yet to grab a win, but are just a couple of points off being as high as seventh, so the bottom half of the Power Rankings could change drastically next week.

#11 Celtic Dragons (-)

Looked promising in the Round 2 game and likely to gain some ground on their opponents, but instead were well beaten by Loughborough Lightning. The 28-goal loss saw them drop 11.4 points, and now sit way back with an overall score of minus-37.28. They are 22 points away from the Storm, and need to make some serious inroads to get back into it, but the only way is up.