ROUND 4 of the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) saw a number of players impress and showcase that the they are raring to go after their year long hiatus from netball. With newcomers aplenty and some familiar faces once again taking the court Draft Central takes a look at some of the top performers and which players have already dominated certain statistical areas.

NOTE: Some VNSL stats have not yet been updated following Round 4.

Goals:

Karyn Bailey has continued her dominance for Surrey Storm, doing a wealth of work under the post with her clever timing and fancy footwork enabling her to edge closer to the post taking her season tally to 136 goals. Mary Cholhok has been a rock under the post for the Lightning spearheading them to crucial wins and steadily increasing her tally despite her current record sitting at 114, with her most recent tally not yet officially on the stats sheet. Although Amy Clinton was unable to play out the entire match after copping a head knock she still features in the top five for goals scored with 102 to her name while Wasps goal shooter Rachel Dunn has also been proficient to post. With 101 goals to her name over four matches Dunn has been a steady stream of goals for the side while Kim Borger rounds out the top five with 76 goals despite Team Bath not playing this round.

Shooting accuracy:

Manchester Thunder goal shooter, Joyce Mvula is a calming presence under the post with her reliability a main focus point under the post. Converting at 96 per cent having only missed three of her 57 attempts, Mvula is one of the competition’s most accurate goalers. Severn Stars shooter Georgia Rowe holds third spot in the league for accuracy with Sophie Drakeford-Lewis also impressive to post despite both not playing in Round 4; the former through illness and the latter with a bye. London Pulse youngster Kira Rothwell broke her accurate streak, missing her first goal of the season, but still boasts a 94 per cent accuracy with 17 from 18.

Intercepts:

Looking at the defensive end, Razia Quashie is currently tied with Strathclyde Sirens defender Towera Vinkhumbo on 12 intercepts apiece, although the official statistics from the Saracens game are still yet to be released. Quashie is a consistent figure down back for the Mavericks frequently getting hands to ball and producing intercepts while Vinkhumbo shone in Round 4 single-handedly collecting five intercepts to rocket up the leaderboard. Vicki Oyesola came from the court midway through Leeds’ match with her game’s statistics also yet to be released, but currently holds the intercept mantle with 11 to her name. Fran Williams managed to add another intercept to her tally making it 11 from three games, while Alima Priest flexed her muscles in Round 4 to move into the top five with nine intercepts to her name.

Deflections:

Surrey Storm defender, Leah Middleton impressed across Round 4 registering four deflections to overtake the rest of the competition and lead the league in deflections with 15. After a scintillating performance, Vinkhumbo also managed to pick up a wealth of deflections finishing the round with 12 to her name as Quashie also boasts 12. With the stats yet to be updated, Severn Stars’ Lucy Herdman and Wasps’ Josie Huckle round out the top five with 10 and nine deflections respectively.