THE second half of Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) Round 10/11 saw plenty of intriguing results, with a number of blowouts as the top sides made light work of their lower-placed opponents, while a closely fought encounter between two of the top sides proved to be the match of the round, as expected.

Surrey Storm (35) defeated by Manchester Thunder (52)

Player of the match: Rebekah Airey (Manchester Thunder)

Manchester Thunder continued their march up the ladder with another strong win despite a close start against Surrey Storm. Neither side could be separated in the opening term, sitting on 11 goals apiece before the Thunder showcased their class and explosive attacking nature to pepper away at the post and create a handy 13-goal lead. The Storm restored some balance to the game in the third, not allowing the Thunder to add to the margin heading into three quarter time. However, it only got worse from there on out for the Storm who simply could not match the energy and intensity Manchester was displaying in the final term as it ran out with a 17-goal win.

Karyn Bailey was strong under the post for the Storm, producing 25 goals and only missing two attempts for the match while Frankie Wells also worked hard for her four goals. Alima Priest was a workhorse down back, contesting every pass and using her quick footwork to get hands to ball thanks to her four intercepts and two deflections. The shooting combination of Joyce Mvula and Eleanor Cardwell was on song once again with the pair combining seamlessly to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Mvula posted 31 goals as Cardwell managed 13, while receiving support from Berri Neil and Lois Pearson with five and three goals respectively. Rebekah Airey had a game to remember for the Thunder, with the highly talented defender plying her trade with her defensive tenacity coming to the fore to stop her opponents in their tracks.

Celtic Dragons (38) defeated by Wasps Netball (52)

Player of the match: Rachel Dunn (Wasps Netball)

The Wasps starred against the Celtic Dragons who are yet to win a game in season 2021. The Dragons were well and truly outclassed by the Wasps at every turn, seemingly having the ball on a string to weave it down the court and attack the scoreboard. Bursting out of the blocks in the opening term with a six-goal to 14 quarter, the Wasps did the damage early and could afford to take their foot off the pedal in patches. The Dragons competed hard for large passages of the game but were never really in with a chance of upsetting their opponents given the Wasps’ reliability, strong connections and grit to win.

The partnership of Amy Clinton and Rebekah Robinson continues to grow each and every game and this match was no different, with the shooting duo finding good space and shooting at a relatively high accuracy, as Clinton lead the way with 24 goals while Robinson managed 14. Abigail Tyrrell and Christina Shaw worked tirelessly in defence to repel the ball combining for five intercepts and six deflections but that was not enough to quell Rachel Dunn and Katie Harris who both inflicted pain consistently with 34 and 14 goals respectively. Amy Flanagan was strong through the midcourt once again for the Wasps while down in defence Josie Huckle was a rock notching up three rebounds, three intercepts and four deflections.

Severn Stars (34) defeated by Saracens Mavericks (54)

Player of the match: Gabby Marshall (Saracens Mavericks)

A 17-goal to nine first term set the tone early with the Mavericks flexing their muscles with their accuracy to post and intentions clear. Despite a close couple of minutes here and there throughout the game, the Mavs put the foot down and did not take the foot off the pedal for the entirety of the match, eventually blowing the Stars out of the water. Playing with confidence both in attack and defence, the Mavericks picked away at the Stars keeping them to single figures in each quarter highlighting their all-round defensive prowess.

Georgia Rowe was the go-to girl under the post for the Stars nailing 29 goals and taking full advantage of her height inside the goal circle given the absence of Razia Quashie. That is not to say that both Jo Trip and Jodie Gibson did not impress, combatting Rowe’s height with their pressure out the front to limit opportunities for the ball to go forward and enter the goal circle with any ease amassing a combined three intercepts. The Mavs made the most of their shooting depth as Ine-Mari Venter nailed 25 goals while Britney Clarke produced the next best with 17. Kadeen Corbin’s versatility came to the fore while through the midcourt Gabby Marshall was a trojan running hard both in offence and defence picking up five intercepts for her efforts. Nia Jones was reliable through the centre for the Stars while down in goal keeper, Adi Bolakoro impressed with two intercepts and just the 12 penalties.

Wasps Netball (38) defeated Saracens Mavericks (34)

A tight match between the two top five sides was characterised by just how tight the defence was in this encounter, with Wasps narrowly getting the chocolates in a come-from-behind effort against the Mavericks. Whilst the Mavs led at each change, the Wasps piled on 13 goals – their only double digit haul – in the final quarter to the Mavs’ seven in the last term to earn the victory, and realistically it was the Mavericks’ comparative messiness that shot them in the foot in the tight matchup.

A blood nose to Venter (19 goals from 24 attempts) did nothing to help the Mavericks’ chances, with Clarke a forced change in goal shooter in the final quarter of the match, disrupting the flow the side worked so hard to create and maintain throughout, as Corbin put up 12 goals in a solid assisting role. Whilst Marshall had an impact in wing defence, a clever change from Mel Mansfield slotting Iona Christian into centre and Flanagan to wing defence proved crucial for the Wasps, whilst the consistency of Huckle and Fran Williams paid off against the Mavericks attackers. At the other end, a combined 32 penalties between Gibson and Trip did the Mavs no favours, as Dunn (27 from 29) and Harris (11 from 13) put up accurate hauls once more.

Leeds Rhinos (47) defeated by Manchester Thunder (66)

A second Monday evening match completed Round 10/11 and overall proceedings in Wakefield, with the Thunder collecting a second impressive victory of the weekend to remain one of the top teams in the competition. Despite the Rhinos regaining Fi Toner for the first time since Round 1/2, the side was well and truly outclassed at every turn, especially in the penalty department with the side rendered messy by the classy Thunder.

The combination of Mvula and Cardwell was impressive as ever, with the Malawi superstar piling on a whopping 43 goals for just two misses, as Cardwell piped up with 22 of her own in a more influential showing than Sunday’s outing. Rhinos’ Tuaine Keenan just could not stop Mvula, piling on a ridiculous 26 penalties and a caution for two intercepts and five deflections, whilst the messiness translated down the court with the midcourt combining for 21 penalties and Donnell Wallam collecting 10 of her own to go with a solid 39 goals in her second match back from injury. Rhea Dixon lacked her usual spark in goal attack, well and truly stopped in her tracks by the in-form Airey who had another impressive outing for the Thunder, as did Almond who benefited off her read of the play and anticipation of the ball.