IT has been a big season of Vitality Netball Superleague action, and with 18 rounds under their belts every team has come away with some big wins and disappointing losses. In one of the closest and most exciting VNSL seasons yet, four big-name clubs ran over the rest of the competition and put on some dazzling performances across the board to be well-deserving of a finals position. With all five matches played at the same time on Saturday, every team had to fight for a win to maintain their position on the ladder, while some teams were in desperate need of results out of their hands. The final round for 2019 saw two games come down to five point margins, while Wasps Netball, Team Bath and Loughborough Lightning finished off the home and away season with a bang with another strong win in the books. The Saracens Mavericks have missed out on finals by the skin of their teeth, putting their twelfth win on the board but needing a loss from one of the top four – all of which came out on top in their respective matches.

Loughborough Lightning slotted their thirteenth win of the season, beating Celtic Dragons by 11 goals in the must-win match and finishing in fourth to guarantee a finals position. In veteran, Kyra Jones’ final match for the Dragons, Lightning came out strong from the get-go, putting 20 goals on the board in the first term before the Dragons put on a strong defensive effort in the second to even up the ledger with 14 goals apiece, though still down by six at half time. A more consistent effort from the Lightning in the second half saw the Dragons fade out towards the end, however the Dragons managed to keep the margin lower than their last match to finish the season on a good note. The likes of Hannah Joseph and Ella Clark worked seamlessly around the circle, while the connection between Clark and goal shooter, Mary Cholhok was strong as ever as the pair put up shot after shot and consistently producing options in goal. Chelsea Lewis and Kalifa McCollin did their job well at the post, however Lightning’s intent was too much as defensive efforts from Tuaine Keenan and Vicki Oyesola forced turnovers at every opportunity.

Saracens Mavericks have suffered a blow in the final round of the season, securing a five goal win over Strathclyde Sirens but missing out on finals after an inconsistent season saw the side relying on losses in the top four to make it through. Sirens have finished the season with only three wins on the board, however are sure to be content with a solid effort in the final match of the year, ready to build on their form ahead of next season. Sirens kept Mavericks on their toes throughout the match, likely giving the Mavericks a scare as they came out firing and stayed in the match until the bitter end, only down by three goals at three quarter time. Though never taking the lead, the Sirens pushed the Mavericks and put on a strong four-quarter effort to try and ruin finals chances for their opposition. Player of the match, Sasha Corbin put on a show through the midcourt, while defensive efforts from Sirens defenders, Emily Nicholl and Emma Gibbons forced dominant goaler, George Fisher to the bench as Corbin’s efforts were wasted in attack. A strong defensive push from Razia Quashie and Jo Trip saw the Mavericks take advantage of any loose ball across the court, creating turnovers and doubt in the Sirens’ minds as they crept closer, giving the Mavericks a vital surge to get the job done. Young sharpshooter, Emma Barrie put in the hard yards despite constant pressure from the likes of Quashie, while centre, Gia Abernethy was exceptional placing the ball to advantage.

Team Bath had a fantastic finish to the season, comfortably running over the resilient London Pulse by 22 goals and securing a finals berth against Manchester Thunder on Saturday. Bath started out strong against the Pulse, shooting 39 goals to 23 in the first half to all but guarantee a win against the competition newcomers. The hard and fast start saw the side slow down in the third, with Pulse showing some intensity and taking two goals off the half-time margin, before a 20 goal to 11 final term saw Bath take a confident win in front of a 1300 strong home crowd and retain their position in third ahead of finals. Player of the match, Kim Commane was stellar at the post for Bath, shooting the lights out and putting her side at an eight goal to nil lead early in the first. Interestingly, Pulse chose to start youngster, Bea Skingsley in goal defence, only bringing on captain, Ama Agbeze in the second term in an attempt to tag out speedy Bath goal attack, Sophie Drakeford-Lewis. Despite strong efforts at the post from Pulse shooters, Shantal Slater and Chiara Semple, who have settled well into their partnership since the beginning of the season, Bath’s defensive efforts were just too strong with the likes of Summer Artman, Eboni Usoro-Brown and Imogen Allison maintaining their strong form and consistently producing turnovers to feed back forward.

The Wasps were the one team guaranteed a finals spot after Round 18, but that did not stop the side from putting on another phenomenal performance to finish the home and away season on a high, managing a 15 goal victory over Severn Stars. In true Wasps form, the side came out strong in the opening term, putting shots up and denying goals at the other end as they relegated the Stars to only nine goals in the first. Despite a strong effort through the second and third quarters from the Stars, the Wasps pulled off a stellar final quarter to open the margin again and shoot 15 goals to six for their fifteenth win of the season. With the likes of Bongi Msomi and Jade Clarke generating plenty of turnover ball and creating opportunities in attack, goalers Katie Harris and Rachel Dunn had no issue putting shots up to maintain the lead. Credit to the defensive efforts of the Stars, with Sam Cook and Ella Powell-Davies putting in the hard yards to work back possession, reducing the Wasps to only 12 goals in the third quarter as clean ball movement through the midcourt provided plenty of options for the likes of Georgia Rowe at the post.

In a surprisingly close finish Manchester Thunder guaranteed a finals berth, beating a fired up Surrey Storm by only five goals after being down by one at three quarter time. It was a match of two halves, as Storm came out hard and fast to limit the usually clinical Thunder to only nine goals in the first term before being restricted to nine goals in the second as the Thunder overcame Storm’s tough defence and shot 19 goals to be up by six at half time. Storm reset at half time, flying out of the blocks to shoot 21 goals for their best quarter score of the season, once again limiting Thunder’s shooting efforts. However a strong defensive effort from Emma Dovey and Kerry Almond in the final term pulled back the margin once again, seeing the Thunder settle through the midcourt and take a much needed win to secure a home semi-final. While Joyce Mvula and Ellie Cardwell were solid in the goal circle, shooting with great composure to keep ahead of the Storm, the likes of Sigi Burger, Rhea Dixon and Yasmin Hodge-England were just as cool, calm and collected for Storm, settling the ball against the phenomenal defensive efforts of Almond and Dovey.

Final Ladder: 2019
1. Wasps Netball (15-3)
2. Manchester Thunder (13-5)
3. Team Bath (13-5)
4. Loughborough Lightning (13-5)
5. Saracens Mavericks (12-6)
6. Severn Stars (7-11)
7. Celtic Dragons (6-12)
8. Surrey Storm (6-12)
9. Strathclyde Sirens (3-15)
10. London Pulse (2-16)