A HUGE opening weekend of Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) action began last week, with Round 3 continuing over the past few days and proving how difficult it can be to predict outcomes given how much the competition has stepped up over the past few seasons. In a 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 1/2 LADDER

1. Team Bath (2-0)
2. Saracens Mavericks (2-0)
3. Leeds Rhinos (1-1)
4. Wasps Netball (1-1)
5. Manchester Thunder (1-0)
6. Loughborough Lightning (1-1)
7. Strathclyde Sirens (1-1)
8. Surrey Storm (1-1)
9. London Pulse (0-1)
10. Severn Stars (0-2)
11. Celtic Dragons (0-2)

ROUND 3 LADDER

1. Team Bath (3-0)
2. Manchester Thunder (2-0)
3. Leeds Rhinos (2-1)
4. Loughborough Lightning (2-1)
5. Strathclyde Sirens (2-1)
6. Saracens Mavericks (2-1)
7. Surrey Storm (2-2)
8. Wasps Netball (1-2)
9. Severn Stars (0-2)
10. London Pulse (0-2)
11. Celtic Dragons (0-4)

There is no doubt that Team Bath belongs at the top of the ladder from their three matches, able to come out on top in two nailbiters and pile on a 32-goal victory against Celtic Dragons in their opening encounter. Manchester Thunder is arguably also in the right position on the ladder undefeated from two outings but winning both by an average of 22 goals, more than proving their worth to sit just below Bath. But only time will tell how the side shapes up once they take the court more than the once during a round – which is not until Round 5/6 in mid-March. Like Thunder, Leeds Rhinos and Loughborough Lightning both sit two from three to complete the top four following Round 3, though with Leeds losing a couple of key figures they may struggle to maintain the same pressure, while the Lightning exploded out of the gates against the Mavericks on the weekend to prove they have come to win this season. Lightning are in the unprecedented position of already taking on a presumed couple of premiership favourites in Bath, Mavs and Wasps – who despite their lowly position in eighth have shown what they are capable of already – and should skate through the next few rounds with relative ease, whilst fifth ranked Strathclyde Sirens are undoubtedly in the opposite position, sitting 2-1 for the season so far but only defeating bottom four sides in Severn Stars and Dragons thus far, struggling to compete with Thunder during the opening round. Looking towards the bottom half of the updated ladder following Round 3, the Mavericks should bounce back fairly well with key goaler Ine-Mari Venter yet to take the court and add an extra prong to the attack, whilst Surrey Storm has showcased some great moments so far to lead the competition for goals scored so far this season, leading with 168 from four matches, as Rhinos (154) and Bath (153) trail slightly from their respective three encounters. The Wasps can always be relied on to come out flying after a loss, so with two straight narrow losses behind them, expect the side to come out flying in the coming rounds to remove themselves from their current bottom four positioning, whilst London Pulse and Stars have only played two matches apiece and have not yet had a real opportunity to showcase their connections and form. When it comes to comparing where each team sits on the ladder between the two rounds, it is easily apparent from the get-go how much the difference in fixtures has already impacted the ladder and competition as a whole. For the Dragons, four matches in a week has clearly taken its toll with the relatively inexperienced side failing to put a win on the board thus far, whilst at the top of the tables Thunder is sitting comfortable on two wins from two encounters. But that is not to say that Thunder have not been in an intriguing position themselves, winning their first match but sitting in fifth at the end of Round 1/2 purely because of the amount of matches other teams had played. Add in the intriguing element of Severn Stars being dealt a bye round in Round 3, unable to add to their total as teams piled on the matchplay, and plenty of changes were made across the two rounds.

ROUND 1/2 COVERAGE

Friday & Saturday wraps // Sunday & Monday wraps Stats: Round 1/2 // Team of the Week

ROUND 3 COVERAGE

Sunday wrap // Monday wrap Stats: Round 3 // Team of the Week