The U19 and U21 Netball Performance Leagues (NPL) concluded on July 18 as the winners were crowned on Finals Day at the University of Worcester Arena.
The NPL is part of the Elite Sport Framework which allowed netballers within the Performance Pathway to take part in valuable competition in the past few months after the 2019/20 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, the impact of the pandemic led to four matches being unresolved, but there was still plenty of young talent on display
Here’s a recap of how all the teams fared…
NPL U19
Both North East and Surrey Storm lost all four games in the group stages, but with ninth place up for grabs, it was Storm who clinched a 41-25 win.
Seventh place was shared between Leeds Rhinos and Saracens Mavericks as the fixture was unable to be completed.
Team Bath finished only three points off top spot in Group B as they ultimately placed third, so they were determined not to slip up in their 39-27 victory against Wasps Netball that ensured they came fifth overall.
Manchester Thunder were a few goals away from being in the NPL U19 final as they narrowly came in second behind Loughborough Lightning in Group A, and they beat Severn Stars 45-27 on Sunday to clinch third spot.
Frustratingly the final was among the games disrupted by COVID-19, therefore Loughborough Lightning and London Pulse shared the honour of being NPL U19 champions.
Final Standings
1= London Pulse
1= Loughborough Lightning
3. Manchester Thunder
4. Severn Stars
5. Team Bath
6. Wasps Netball
7= Leeds Rhinos
7= Saracens Mavericks
9. Surrey Storm
10. North East
U19 Player of the Season: Ella Bowen (Loughborough Lightning)
View the U19 finals day results here
NPL U21
The two teams without a win in the group stages faced off in the ninth-place play-0ff as Severn Stars came out on top against North East courtesy of a 43-31 win.
The seventh-place play-off between Loughborough Lightning and Team Bath was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Arguably the game of the day was Wasps Netball’s thrilling 43-42 success against Surrey Storm as they clinched fifth spot.
Third place had to be shared between Leeds Rhinos and Saracens Mavericks as the fixture couldn’t go ahead as planned.
The final saw London Pulse take on Manchester Thunder and Pulse completed a sensational double swoop of both NPL competitions with a 45-30 triumph that was captured live on their YouTube channel.
Final standings
1. London Pulse
2. Manchester Thunder
3= Leeds Rhinos
3= Saracens Mavericks
5. Wasps Netball
6. Surrey Storm
7. TBC (Bath or Loughborough)
8. TBC (Bath or Loughborough)
9. Severn Stars
10. North East
U21 Player of the Season: Savannah Dada-Mascoll (Manchester Thunder)
View the U21 finals day results here
Everyone at England Netball would like to say a massive thank you to all our brilliant officials and volunteers for your hard work and support to make this season happen.
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