The 2021 Vitality Netball Superleague season continued over the weekend with six matches across two days at Production Park Studio 001.
The teamwork shown between players, coaches, staff and volunteers helped to get the season up and running with fans able to enjoy every pass, goal and intercept live on Sky Sports.
Here’s your recap of all the action…
The first ‘War of the Roses’ derby match ended in delight for Manchester Thunder as they defeated Leeds Rhinos 48-41 to open Sunday’s fixtures.
Former Thunder head coach Dan Ryan watched his Rhinos side compete manfully for most of the match before the 2019 champions pulled away towards the end as Netball UK Player of the Match Laura Malcolm starred.
Suez Canal 🤝 @tkeenan_
Currently impenetrable
Nothing has been getting past the New Zealander 🛑
She's certainly steadied the ship since she's come on ⛴️ pic.twitter.com/3fjNBdzdpJ
— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) March 28, 2021
Team Bath Netball are showing no signs of slowing down as they overcame an improving London Pulse 51-29 to record their eighth consecutive win.
A phenomenal first half had the Blue and Gold up 27-8 and they consolidated the victory in the second period with Vitality Rose Layla Guscoth collecting the Atlantic House Investments Player of the Match award.
Loughborough Lightning were given a significant test by Strathclyde Sirens as Sara Bayman’s side secured a 43-38 win.
Sirens threatened to pull off an upset but Lightning’s quality players ultimately pulled the team through, chiefly among them was Computacenter Player of the Match Jasmin Odeogberin.
Michael Jordan ❌
Mary Cholhok ✅
No matter the sport, nothing quite comes close to a patented Cholhok lay-up 🏐🏀
She's flying high as @GilbertNetball Top Scorer this season 🛫 pic.twitter.com/stMnmCgT3b
— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) March 28, 2021
Celtic Dragons remain winless in the 2021 season but they delivered perhaps their best performance of the campaign in a 52-38 reverse against Wasps.
The Welsh outfit raced into a five-goal lead and were 12-9 in front at the end of the first quarter before Wasps reeled them back in to claim the three points, helped by the work of Mizuno Player of the Match Amy Flanagan.
Saracens Mavericks moved into the top four on Monday night courtesy of a 53-36 triumph over Severn Stars.
A typically dominant defensive display from Vitality Rose and Lucozade Player of the Match Razia Quashie tipped an occasionally scrappy contest in Mavericks’ favour.
Round eight featured several close battles and the final match was emblematic of that as Leeds Rhinos narrowly prevailed 40-38 against London Pulse.
Pulse had the lead at halftime and the match could have swung either way which was summed up by the Atlantic House Investments Player of the Match award going to a player on the losing side in Funmi Fadoju.
Sum up @FadojuFunmi's defending in one emoji 👇 pic.twitter.com/eTnqRdEXLP
— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) March 29, 2021
Sky Sports pundit Pamela Cookey said: “What didn’t she (Fadoju) bring? She’s just 18-years-old! She came out with intercepts, she came out with deflections, she came out with tips, she came out marking so tough.”
Watch all of the weekend’s action back on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel!
Head to the Vitality Netball Superleague website for upcoming fixture details.
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