THIS weekend sees some of the netball’s league hit the halfway point, while some are starting to look towards the end game.

ANZ PREMIERSHIP

MATCH OF THE ROUND

WBOP Magic vs. Central Pulse
Saturday at 4pm
Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga

The weekend’s middle clash in New Zealand sees the undefeated Central Pulse travel a few hours north to take on the Magic.

The Pulse may be humming along nicely, but they face a Magic side who have had quite an up and down start to the season and will be looking for some consistency in their season. When the Magic get all their components working they are an impressive side, but they just have not been able to do that consistently just yet.

One thing that has been impressive is the combination between Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Saviour Tui, despite only coming together this season.

However this combination will be put to the test this weekend when they face the incredibly in form Kelly Jackson, who with Parris Mason have become the strongest defensive team in the competition this season.

OTHER FIXTURES

Southern Steel vs. Northern Mystics | Sunday, 4pm @ Edgar Centre, Dunedin

Mainland Tactix Vs. Northern Stars | Monday, 7:30pm @ Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch

NETBALL SUPERLEAGUE

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Surrey Storm vs Leeds Rhinos
Saturday at 6pm
Surrey Sports Park

This is perhaps the most season defining match of the entire weekend.

There is a month left of the season, and currently both of these sides sit three wins behind fourth placed Severn Stars and so three games out of a finals spot.

So, whoever wins this clash is still in finals contention for at least one more week, while the loser will have their faint finals hopes officially dashed.

Bethany Dix has been a force for the Storm in recent weeks, but will she and her coach Mikki Austin be able to get past the force of Caroline O’Hanlon and her sidekick Cassie Howard?

OTHER FIXTURES

Loughborough Lightning vs. Strathclyde Sirens | Friday, 6pm @ Sir David Wallace Arena

Severn Stars vs. Saracens Mavericks | Friday, 7:30pm @ University of Worcester Arena

Team Bath vs. Manchester Thunder | Friday, 7:30pm @ Team Bath Arena

London Pulse vs. Cardiff Dragons | Saturday, 7pm @ Copper Box Arena

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL

MATCH OF THE ROUND

West Coast Fever vs. Melbourne Vixens
Sunday at 4pm  
RAC Arena

The top of the table clash looks very different than it did just a week ago.

West Coast continues to go down its dominating path they have been on all year, but the Vixens were simply outclassed last week by the Lightning, and suffered their first loss of 2024.

The goals shot category is the one area that really separates the sides.

The Fever have shot 89 more goals than the Vixens, but the Vixens have conceded 20 fewer goals.

This means that Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin are really going to have to lift their workload to match particularly Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and her volume levels, which often averages around the 50 goal mark.

The Vixens also have added motivation to get this weekend, because if they lose and the Thunderbirds win, the reigning champions will move into second which could prove pivotal come the end of the season.

OTHER FIXTURES

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs. Queensland Firebirds | Saturday, 5pm @ UniSC Arena

Adelaide Thunderbirds vs. NSW Swifts | Saturday, 7pm @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Melbourne Mavericks vs. GIANTS Netball | Sunday, 2pm @ John Cain Arena