FANS always knew that this season of Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) action was set to be a cracker, but it is safe to say that the competitiveness of the season, and in turn the ladder, has made the last few rounds a real race to the finish. In this new series, each week Draft Central will compare the most recent ladders given how quickly things can change, and delve into how each round of fixturing can change up positions based on the amount of matches each side has played.

ROUND 16 LADDER

1. Team Bath (16-1)
2. Loughborough Lightning (14-2)
3. Manchester Thunder (13-3)
4. Wasps Netball (10-7-1)
5. Leeds Rhinos (9-7)
6. Strathclyde Sirens (8-6-2)
7. Saracens Mavericks (8-6-1)
8. London Pulse (3-13)
9. Severn Stars (3-13)
10. Surrey Storm (2-14)
11. Celtic Dragons (1-14)

ROUND 17/18 LADDER

1. Team Bath (17-1)
2. Loughborough Lightning (16-2)
3. Manchester Thunder (15-3)
4. Wasps Netball (10-8-1)
5. Leeds Rhinos (10-8)
6. Strathclyde Sirens (7-7-2)
7. Saracens Mavericks (9-7-1)
8. London Pulse (4-13)
9. Severn Stars (3-15)
10. Surrey Storm (2-16)
11. Celtic Dragons (1-16)

Looking at this week’s ladder, things do not seem too different with only the win counts changing and no excessive movement as we have seen creeping in over the past few rounds. But one thing this round’s ladder update does boast, is another look in at the race for the final spot in the top four, after Manchester Thunder officially sewed up the third spot with two hefty wins on the weekend. Unsurprisingly, it is still Team Bath sitting atop the ladder, as they have for majority of the season. With two matches remaining – against Saracens Mavericks and Loughborough Lightning, respectively, it should be an interesting few weeks with the Mavs coming into their Round 19 clash as the only team to claim a win over the blue and gold side thus far. The Lightning are realistically one of the only other sides capable of doing so and will look to test Bath thoroughly in a blockbuster final match to finish off the home and away season, which could ultimately be a grand final preview. Lightning are in a very similar position to Bath, with a Round 19 matchup waiting against Manchester Thunder, who will be looking to gain ground and slip into second, which could then put more pressure on the Lightning side heading into the final round. For Manchester, a final round matchup with Strathclyde Sirens could prove interesting, with the Scotland-based side requiring a win here but potentially out of the running for a top four position in the hours following their encounter. The race for the top four continues, with Wasps’ loss to Mavericks on the weekend proving crucial for both sides – meaning Wasps need a win this week given it is their final match of the home and away season, and Mavericks need to ensure they claim points in all three of their remaining games to challenge the Rhinos for the final spot. While the Wasps’ final match should be a fairly comprehensive victory taking on Surrey Storm, their opposition put out two four-quarter performances over the weekend and will certainly look to test the Wasps. Rhinos face the bye this week, so will know following Round 19 whether they are capable of swinging into the final position on the ladder, with two – fairly simple – matchups facing them in the final round and plenty to be excited for. Given the Rhinos have the most favourable draw remaining, they are the only side that could realistically nab the fourth spot in finals from the Wasps, with both Sirens and Mavericks requiring a clean sweep of wins to finish the season, and only really guaranteed one from two (Sirens) and two from three (Mavericks) respectively.

WASPS NETBALL: 4th | Played 19 W 10 | L 9 | D 1 Round 19: Surrey Storm Round 20: BYE STRATHCLYDE SIRENS: 6th | Played 18 W 9 | L 7 | D 2 Round 19: Celtic Dragons Round 20: Manchester Thunder

LEEDS RHINOS: 5th | Played 18 W 10 | L 8 | D 0 Round 19: BYE Round 20: London Pulse, Celtic Dragons SARACENS MAVERICKS: 7th | Played 17 W 9 | L 7 | D 1 Round 19: Team Bath, London Pulse Round 20: Surrey Storm

The bottom end of the ladder has not changed too much for the majority of the season, with London Pulse claiming a fourth win over the weekend to retain eighth position on the ladder, while Severn Stars (three wins), Surrey Storm (two) and Celtic Dragons (one) all looking unlikely to claim an upset to finish the season, although they will look to test one another in the coming rounds with Pulse and Stars facing off this weekend, before Dragons and Stars go head-to-head in the final round.