DESPITE a competitive start from the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) All Stars in the first match of the Netball Legends Series, the England Roses’ experienced connections reigned supreme in the clash. Trailing by just a couple of goals at each of the quarter breaks, the All Stars looked the goods and well within their rights to stand up to the Roses, before the international side switched up a gear in the third and rode the momentum home for the 70-54 result. While the final result tells one story, the match quality tells a much different tale of proceedings with the closely fought battle seeing neither side back down, although it was the Roses who were able to kick things up a notch. The battle between starting centres Serena Guthrie and Caroline O’Hanlon was neck-and-neck from the starting whistle, while the effort of Nat Panagarry negated the quick ball movement of Nat Haythornthwaite, with the two wings matching in intensity and forcing turnovers. The former combination of Liana Leota and Joyce Mvula found its effectiveness in the second term with the duo creating powerful forward forays, while Helen Housby and George Fisher continued to have ball served on a silver platter despite the hard work of All Stars vice-captains, Jo Trip and Sam May. The third quarter was when the match turned, though, with the new connections within the All Stars squad well and truly exposed by the experienced Roses unit, with fresh feet seemingly doing the trick around the court. Beth Cobden made her long-awaited return in the red dress, while the already consistent combination of Layla Guscoth and Razia Quashie took a leap in intensity, with the latter earning player of the match honours for her efforts. The changes were made in the England front-end too, with a new-look circle combination in Ellie Cardwell and playmaker Sophie Drakeford-Lewis doing the trick out the front. Realistically, it was only that third quarter where things went drastically away from the All Stars’ plan, with Australian recruit Gia Abernethy telling VNSL prior to the match that the squad’s intention was to test the Roses. “I think the team we’ve got on paper, we should really, really challenge them (the Vitality Roses) and take it to them, so obviously I’m really excited for the first match,” Abernethy said. All Stars head coach Karen Greig said much the same post-match, stating that connections and combinations were the main focus for game one and focusing on challenging the Roses in the remaining two matches. “Tonight was all about what combinations worked, building those connections and knowing we can be a force to be reckoned with going into the next two games,” she said. Roses head coach Jess Thirlby remarked on her side’s ability to not only take on the pressure of the All Stars early on in the match, but also the drive to go one better in the third quarter, especially given the lack of competitive matchplay the side has had over the past 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “What a great game, we knew we were going to be pushed and I think within the first couple of minutes you could see that it was going to be tight. “We wanted to be challenged and we certainly got that from the All Stars,” Thirlby said post-match. “I thought we grew into the game but we were tactically maybe a bit too slow in that first half to fix a few things.” “it’s always pleasing when you put some changes out on court and it makes a difference, but we’re also very aware that they, too, made changes and sometimes you’ve just got to ride that wave. “But we opened up attack much better in that third quarter and defensively I though we grew into the game, and Razia Quashie obviously did a great job as Player of the Match as well.” The second match of the series will be played on the evening of Friday, January 22, from 6pm local time. ENGLAND ROSES | 14 | 17 | 20 | 19 (70) VNSL ALL STARS | 11 | 14 | 10 | 19 (54) STARTING SEVEN

England Roses: GS: George Fisher GA: Helen Housby WA: Nat Haythornthwaite C: Serena Guthrie WD: Jade Clarke GD: Layla Guscoth GK: Razia Quashie

VNSL All Stars: GS: Joyce Mvula GA: Rebekah Robinson WA: Liana Leota C: Caroline O’Hanlon WD: Nat Panagarry GD: Jo Trip GK: Sam May

MATCH DETAILS: Friday, January 22, 6pm local (5am AEDT, Saturday, January 23) Sunday, January 24, 6.30pm local (5:30am AEDT, Monday, January 25) *UK and Ireland only.