WITH the Netball Legend Series done and dusted there are plenty of positives to take out of the tournament for both sides. The first instalment delves into the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) All Stars side, with international talent from six nations coming together and showcasing plenty of flair as they did so. Tune in tomorrow for part two focusing on the England Roses.

The VNSL standard has stepped up

While unfortunately blown out scorelines were the trend of the Netball Legends Series, there is no doubt the VNSL All Stars put on a real display with their exciting flair across the court and continuous hunt for the ball. While a lot of off-season hype heaps the focus onto new international recruits to the league, this series helped to really showcase the exciting abilities of players who may not have the same accolades as their teammates. Consistency is key, and that was made apparent against the Roses with Nat Panagarry showcasing her her hunt and drive, while the sometimes underestimated Sam May and Jo Trip proved they are more than capable of limiting ball movement down back. Factor in the impressive efforts of developing Roses prospects like Summer Artman and Yasmin Parsons, and what this series did really well was highlight just how high a standard the Superleague has reached, even with a number of its high profile players taking the court in opposition.

When it comes to test matches, experience is everything

This series showcased just how damaging some of the experienced names are across the Superleague. Age is just a number, and the likes of Liana Leota and Caroline O’Hanlon proved that once more with their ability to get on with the job and be unstoppable down the court. The duo shone out the front for the All Stars, with O’Hanlon’s workhorse attitude and Leota’s game smarts at times proving too much for the Roses. What these players may now lack in speed and energy, they bring their athleticism and endurance to the forefront and prove that they can match it with the best, time and time again. With six players in the squad aged 30 or older – and majority of those playing through the midcourt and defence – the work rate and form of these athletes is impressive. Their ability to match the Roses squad showcased just how damaging experienced heads can be, especially against a more youthful, developing Roses side, able to anticipate movements and pile on the pressure.

Jamaican development is more evident than ever

While Jamaica has been developing as a powerhouse nation for a number of years, there is no doubt their defensive focus has been in the spotlight with players like Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson coming through the VNSL and becoming a force to be reckoned with. Factor in a lot of the nation’s depth being in the goal shooter and goal keeper position, and much of the Sunshine Girls squad gets overlooked. But the nation’s playmaking and attacking flair really came into focus in this series, with Celtic Dragons’ Rebekah Robinson and Wasps’ Gezelle Allison proving they are more than capable of stepping up to the task and shooting the house down out in goal attack. While the duo only played in goals together in patches, both players held their own and provided excellent options from all over the goal ring, able to shoot from range and with plenty of accuracy. With creative movement, aerial ability and plenty of flair, the Jamaican goalers proved that the Sunshine Girls are becoming a more well-rounded side and will be a force to be reckoned with on court.

Next generation of stars are paving the way

While there is no doubt names like Joyce Mvula and Gia Abernethy are known in the VNSL circuit and somewhat on the international stage too, with Mvula in the Malawi squad and Abernethy’s experience in the Australian under 21s, it is sometimes hard to remember that they are still only in their mid-twenties and can further their development with more exposure to games of this standard. Add in Robinson and Allison, who are also in their mid-20s and Artman, who is 23, and a lot of the major fixtures on the court during this series were players showcasing their development over the past few seasons, eager to test their skill against the high-calibre Roses and step up on the big stage. These players proved they can match it with the best, and even though all three matches saw the Roses come away with solid double-digit wins, excellent fighting efforts from across the All Stars squad showcased the ability of the VNSL’s athletes to step up to the task.

The next All Stars v. England Roses series will be even better

With last week’s Netball Legends Series thrown together hastily to replace the Roses’ intended test series against the Jamaican Sunshine Girls due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is safe to say that the spectacle put on by Netball England and the Vitality Netball Superleague was a huge success despite the lack of preparation for the All Stars. The All Stars squad did not manage many training sessions together prior to the beginning of the series, meaning with further notice and practice time in the future the side could really have the time to gel and be a huge competitor to the Roses squad, especially if an All Stars versus Roses series became a regular fixture. It was evident how much the connections developed throughout the All Stars side even just within the three matches, with the players showcasing immense professionalism with their ability step up to the task and form brand new combinations under such short notice.

Match reports:

Game 1 // Game 2 // Game 3