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. From this point on, the calculations are focusing on the 2022 expected wins and goals.

>> FULL EXAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS

ROUND 7/8 POWER RANKINGS

#1 Manchester Thunder (+2)

Actual VNSL ladder leaders Manchester Thunder regained their spot at the top of the table after a massive win in Round 7. Though the Thunder had a rest over the last two days of the weekend, they showed why they are the team to beat this year, dominating Leeds Rhinos to win by 24 goals at AO Arena, re-gaining their top spot by just over a point from London Pulse.

#2 London Pulse (-1)

Though the Pulse did slip down one spot, it was through no real fault of their own, picking up two good wins with a six-gaol victory over Surrey Storm in Round 7, before defeating Strathclyde Sirens by 10 goals in Round 8. That victory netted them a handy 3.5 points and are now 10 clear of Loughborough Lightning and a one off top spot.

#3 Loughborough Lightning (-1)

The Lightning also slipped down a spot, but all due to the Thunder’s dominance in Round 7, with the Lightning picking up back-to-back wins in Round 8. Though they beat Wasps Netball, they were predicted to do so by 10.5 goals, so a four-goal win saw them lose 6.5 points. Meanwhile a nine-goal win over Team Bath resulted in the Lightning gaining the two points.

#4 Team Bath (-)

Staying solid in fourth off the back of a spirited effort against the Lightning and big win over Celtic Dragons, Bath just gained an extra six points to go clear of Surrey Storm by about that difference. They picked up eight points with the 16-goal win over the last placed Dragons, and only dropped two points during the nine-goal loss to the Lightning.

#5 Surrey Storm (-)

Also remaining in the place they were at pre-Round 7, Surrey Storm took it right up to London Pulse and only went down by six goals, whilst the Storm they stunned the Saracens Mavericks by two goals to collect an impressive 4.5 points and remain in the positives.

#6 Strathclyde Sirens (-)

Strathclyde Sirens managed to regain sixth spot in Round 8 after losing it in Round 7, despite going down to London Pulse by 10 goals. The Sirens lost to Saracens Mavericks in Round 7 but were far closer than expected, which resulted the Scottish side leapfrogging the Mavericks. The loss to the Pulse dropped 3.5 points off the total, but they remain 0.45 points ahead on the Mavericks who suffered a greater points loss differential.

#7 Saracens Mavericks (-)

As one may have guessed by reading above, the Mavericks temporarily took back sixth spot after defeating the Sirens, but then a loss to the Storm saw them lose it again. They are only that marginal difference behind the Sirens, but will be looking to regain form and head back up the ladder in the coming weeks.

#8 Wasps Netball (+2)

After a shaky start to the season, the Wasps form has stablished, with a couple of good efforts across both rounds. They gained the most points out of any side, picking up 6.5 between a dominant win over Celtic Dragons (23 goals) and a spirited defeat to Loughborough Lightning (four goals) to be within striking distance of those above them, and gaining a whopping 30 points of separation on the bottom three.

#9 Leeds Rhinos (-)

The Rhinos dropped a spot to 10th after Round 7, but bounced back up to ninth after Round 8, funnily enough not taking the court in the latter. Their movement was largely due to the Dragons dropping eight points after a 16-goal loss to Team Bath in Round 8, though the Rhinos themselves had a 24-goal defeat at the hands of the Thunder in Round 7. They did get a win though, knocking off Severn Stars by four goals.

#10 Celtic Dragons (-2)

After hitting a season-high eighth after Round 6, the Dragons slipped back to the bottom three again, dropping points after huge losses to Wasps (23 goals) and Bath (16). Though they do sit in 10th, the Welsh side is only 0.33 points behind Leeds Rhinos, so can regain the spot quickly.

#11 Severn Stars (-)

The last-placed Stars did not take the court in Round 8, but Round 7 saw them go down to Leeds Rhinos, albeit in a tight four-goal defeat. They remain in 11th though, somewhat off the pace and really needing to find some form if they are to be a threat this season, having not won since Round 1.