ROUND 4 of Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) action saw some huge results, with all 11 teams gifted a week off now after a massive start to the season. 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 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)

ROUND 4 LADDER

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

Once more, the fixturing of rounds has had a significant impact on the ladder with different numbers of matches across the round playing into results, as does fatigue and the opposite, which is a complete lack of match-play. Unfortunately for the undefeated Team Bath, their rostered week off came at a bad time as they slip from ladder leaders into third following wins from Loughborough Lightning and Manchester Thunder, once again showcasing how much the ladder can change from week to week – and making it very difficult to predict results with significant changes to the leaderboard. Intriguingly, top spot goes to Lightning despite both Thunder and Bath winning each of their respective three matches thus far, with Lightning sitting 4-1 and realistically only there because of the quirk in fixturing. Meanwhile, Severn Stars struggled to kick into gear following a round off the previous week, as the results from the five-match sides in Lightning, Surrey Storm and Celtic Dragons has gone three ways with one side at the top, one in the middle and one labouring at the bottom. This week, it appears Leeds Rhinos and Saracens Mavericks have swapped positions for the most part, with the Mavericks jumping from sixth to fourth, as the Rhinos fell from third to sixth. Both teams played just the one match this week, with one side registering a win and the other a loss as the results around them also impacted on their ladder positioning. In Leeds’ case, it was the Mavs putting their third win on the board compared to the Rhinos’ second loss, but also factoring in Loughborough’s success which bumped sides further down the standings given Lightning moved from fourth to first on the ladder, whilst Wasps were bumped from eighth to sixth as Strathclyde Sirens kept up their winning form. Only three sides remain in the same ladder position across the two rounds, with Manchester adding a third win to its tally to stay in second and Strathclyde Sirens putting three consecutive wins on the board for the first time to sit in fifth, as Celtic Dragons suffered another few hefty losses to remain cellar dwellers from four rounds. That being said, the Dragons have been dealt a tough fixture with five matches – and five losses – so far, with London Pulse and Severn Stars only realistically ahead of the Dragons because they have played less games, three and four respectively. Stats-wise, and factoring in the extra week off, a few sides should benefit heading into the next double round of action across the weekend of March 12-15.  Severn Stars will hope to have a couple of injured players back after Liana Leota and Georgia Rowe were ruled out of Monday’s Round 4 match against Lightning, whilst Manchester and Pulse will play twice in a round for the first time this season. Realistically, Lightning could find themselves falling down the ladder as both Manchester and Bath have a chance to remain undefeated and go 5-0, and if Storm and Pulse can stop Mary Cholhok and Ella Clark at the post, could also take over Lightning on the goals for category. Wasps have a real chance of leaping up the ladder if Rachel Dunn can come back into the side, although they do have a couple of tough battles coming up against Manchester and Leeds, with the latter hoping to return to the top-end of the ladder after drifting down through no fault of their own.

ROUND 3 COVERAGE

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

ROUND 4 COVERAGE

Sunday wrap // Monday wrap Stats: Round 4