THE Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) returned for the second half of the season at the Copper Box Arena, with goal shooters dominating during Sunday’s proceedings in London.

 Severn Stars (41) defeated by Loughborough Lightning (50)

Player of the match: Nat Panagarry (Loughborough Lightning)

The Lightning were tested by a hungry Severn Stars outfit to begin Round 15, with the side throwing everything they had against the Lightning. Whilst it did not register on the scoreboard across all four quarters, it was a formidable effort from the lower-ranked side which matched in intensity, but just appeared to lack finesse and the finishing touches as the match came to a close, registering just five goals in the final term after winning the third quarter. Accuracy was no issue for the Stars, however it was down to the defensive effort of the Lightning which limited the volume of ball from entering the goal circle.

Mary Cholhok was really tested by Stars defender Lucy Herdman, putting up 37 goals but failing to maintain her usual accuracy with nine misses to her name, while Ella Clark failed to have a significant impact with 13 goals from 15 attempts and four penalties, credit to the shared effort from Adi Bolakoro and Malysha Kelly. Liana Leota, Nia Jones and Lucy Harris put in the hard yards through the midcourt with the latter two combining for three deflections, while Georgia Rowe (25 goals) and Paige Reed (16 goals) shared the workload fairly well and only missed one goal apiece. Nat Panagarry was in a class of her own to receive a well-deserved player of the match award, while Beth Cobden and Sam May combined for six deflections (two turnovers) through the defensive end.

Team Bath (59) defeated Leeds Rhinos (43)

Player of the match: Layla Guscoth (Team Bath)

One of the touted matches of the round did not quite live up to expectations as Team Bath came out flying against the Leeds Rhinos and did not stop throughout an enthralling contest. With an excellent few matches behind them the Rhinos appeared to be in with a chance of shutting down the blue and gold ladder leaders, however an outstanding 17-8 second quarter from Bath all but put that to rest as they went into the second half with a huge 12-goal lead. While the Rhinos looked like they would come back in the second half, they just could not impose themselves on the contest as Bath remained in control to run out with a comfortable 16-goal victory.

It was all class from Bath, as they held strong and starred defensively to shut down Rhinos sharpshooter Donnell Wallam and limit Rhea Dixon‘s impact on the drive. While Wallam still put up 35 goals, it was down to Eboni Usoro-Brown‘s impressive athleticism and player of the match Layla Guscoth‘s adaptability which saw Bath create something out of nothing, continuously turnover over the ball as Guscoth (six deflections and two intercepts for six turnovers) and Imogen Allison (four deflections and two intercepts for three turnovers) were all class in transition shutting down movement and opening opportunities to dive on the loose ball. A two-minute send-off to Summer Artman could have hurt Bath if it was not for the abilities of Kim Borger (43 goals from 46 attempts) and Sophie Drakeford-Lewis (16 goals straight) out the front, who did not relent throughout the contest and outclassed Vicki Oyesola and Tuaine Keenan at every turn.

Strathclyde Sirens (52) defeated Surrey Storm (39) 

Player of the match: Emily Nicholl (Strathclyde Sirens)

A huge battle between the Sirens and Storm saw neither side able to be separated early on, piling on 24 goals apiece by half-time before a reinvigorated Sirens outfit stepped up to pile on the defensive pressure and elevate their game to blow the Storm out of the water in the second half. It was the penalty count that was hugely evident in the 52-39 encounter, with the 51-30 penalties speaking a lot to the two halves of the match. Factor in the Sirens’ extra defensive hunt (11 intercepts to four and 15 turnovers to eight) and the side was just better at treasuring ball, however full credit goes to the workrate of the Stars to remain in the contest, with just one more unforced error and much more accurate in front of goal.

Emma Barrie was influential as ever with 37 goals as Niamh McCall once again showed off her accuracy from distance with 15 goals, with the duo outclassing penalty-heavy Surrey duo Leah Middleton and Alima Priest throughout the contest. Both Barrie and McCall also picked up an intercept apiece – with just Beth Dix not registering one to her name from the Sirens seven – while Towera Vinkhumbo and player of the match Emily Nicholl were hard work down back with the latter only generating three penalties across the full match and racking up two turnovers from her four deflections and intercept. Vinkhumbo (four intercepts) was a wrecking ball in the back end, inhibiting Karyn Bailey‘s ability to find the goal line and her preferred shooting zone, although still finishing the game with 25 goals straight to go with Emma Magee‘s 13 from 17.

Celtic Dragons (40) defeated by Manchester Thunder (54)

Player of the match: Joyce Mvula (Manchester Thunder)

It took a strong effort from Manchester Thunder to shake off a hunting Celtic Dragons unit in a big encounter, as the classy Thunder overcame the Dragons but overall were tested. The Dragons have stepped up their game in recent weeks and this matchup saw nothing different, as the side fell by 14 goals (40-54) but ultimately remaining competitive throughout against one of the top sides. It was only the middle third where things fell apart slightly for the Dragons, down to the full court pressure employed by a formidable Thunder outfit, but otherwise the first and final quarters saw the two sides only split by the one goal.

A Laura Rudland injury in the second did plenty to dampen the Dragons’ spirits but little to stop the side from pressing in the contest, as Amy Clinton (28 goals from 32 attempts) and Rebekah Robinson (12 from 16) led the charge in the Dragons front-end. Annika Lee-Jones was tasked with shutting down Manchester key goaler Joyce Mvula (29 goals from 30 attempts) and certainly had her moments, but could not entirely shut down the eventual player of the match who once more worked in tandem with Ellie Cardwell (17 from 21). It was Thunder’s ability to capitalise off turnovers that allowed them to rein in control whenever the Dragons took their chances, with 12 intercepts compared to the Dragons’ four. Shona O’Dwyer and Abigail Tyrell picked up two intercepts apiece as Lee-Jones collected four turnovers from seven deflections, while for Thunder it was a full-court defensive effort that forced the Dragons’ hand, as Rebekah Airey led the charge with four intercepts, followed by Laura Malcolm (three) and Caroline O’Hanlon and Emma Dovey (both two).