NSL Player Focus: Hannah Joseph (Loughborough Lightning)
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning continued their stellar start to their Netball Super League title defence with another big win on the weekend, this time downing Team Bath by 37 goals in the final match of the weekend. A big part in the Lightning’s success, as she is just about every week, was Lightning midcourter Hannah Joseph. Playing […]
PREVIEW | NSL 2024 Round 1 – New era, new look teams, same goal
TODAY is the day. Later today, the English netball community will once again descend on Nottingham to begin the 2024 Netball Super League season. In a move that is perhaps uniquely Super League, much of the league moved clubs in the offseason, which creates a whole lot of unpredictability heading into the new season. Not […]
2024 Netball Super League Preview – Loughborough Lightning
THE 2024 Netball Super League season is almost upon us, and to celebrate the build up to the season, Rookie Me Central will be previewing each of the 10 competing teams and seeing how this year might unfold for them. Up next are the Loughborough Lightning. At the crux of it all, things could not […]
Flag unable to spare Lightning from turnover
THE reigning Netball Super League (NSL) champions the Loughborough Lightning have joined the NSL 2024 squad reveal party with their list now finalised ahead of the new year. Much of the list is the same as it was in 2023, but there are some big names that will not be at the club next season. […]
Lightning the Queens of the Superleague again
THE Loughborough Lightning are the Queens of the Superleague once again, after they defeated the London Pulse 57-48 to claim the 2023 title. In a tight and entertaining decider, the Lightning eventually pulled away in the third quarter which gave them a boost of confidence and they never looked back. Off the back of a […]
2023 NSL Season Preview: Loughborough Lightning
THE 2023 Netball Super League (NSL) season is just around the corner, and clubs and fans alike are gearing up for another exciting season. After an eventful off season the 10 NSL clubs are ready to go for another year, and to prepare for the season, Rookie Me Central is going around the league and take […]
2022 VNSL team review: Loughborough Lightning
IN the wake of the 2022 Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) season finishing, we have taken a look back at how each team fared. We continue the 11-team countdown with the second placed Loughborough Lightning, who after coming in as reigning premiers, fell one win short of grabbing yet another title. KEY NUMBERS Position: 2nd (Runners-up)Wins: […]
Manchester Thunders to 2022 VNSL title
WITHOUT a doubt the best team all year, Manchester Thunder stood up when it counted, claiming a memorable seven-goal win over Loughborough Lightning to take out the 2022 Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) title. The Thunder dominated early, then weathered the second half comeback from the Lightning, to secure the 60-53 triumph and win their second […]
Thunder and Lightning to create grand final storm
THERE is little doubt the two best Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) teams are through to the decider, after top two sides Manchester Thunder and Loughborough Lightning both won their respective semi-finals. Their respective opponents – Team Bath and London Pulse – put up fights, but ultimately fell short against the sides, creating a grand final […]
VNSL Semi-Finals preview: Final four face off
IT is now or never for the four Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) finalists, with the knockout semi-finals taking place tonight at Sir David Wallace Arena. Ladder leaders Manchester Thunder went undefeated throughout the 2022 season, and will be strong favourites against fourth placed Team Bath, the first of two semi-finals at the arena. The second […]
Games of the Weekend | April 26-29
ANZ PREMIERSHIP MATCH OF THE ROUND Northern Mystics vs Mainland TactixMonday at 7:30pmThe Trusts Arena, Auckland The weekend’s ANZ Premiership action concludes with a top of the table epic. The Tactix and Mystics are off to a strong start to begin this season, but one of their undefeated starts will come to an end on […]
RECAP | NSL 2024 – Round 10
DESPITE the best efforts of a determined Saracens Mavericks, the Loughborough Lightning once again proved too strong and defeated their fellow Londoners 68-60. For the most part it was a tight affair, with the second quarter making all the difference. After initially trading goals to start the match, it was the Lightning who were the […]
Games of the Weekend | April 19-22
ON the menu in World Netball this week includes an English top four match up, a much anticipated match up between former team mates in Australia, and an intriguing clash in New Zealand. ANZ PREMIERSHIP MATCH OF THE ROUNDCentral Pulse vs WBOP MagicSaturday at 4pmTSB Arena, Wellington The first fixture of the entire ANZ Premiership […]
RECAP | NSL 2024 – Round 9
THE Cardiff Dragons have now won the most amount of games they have won in a season since 2019 after they defeated Team Bath 52 goals to 46. The game was tight for much of the match, but the Dragons put their foot down just enough in the third term to secure the win. Although […]
GAMES OF THE WEEKEND | April 12 to 14 2024
FOR the first time in 2024, all three of the world’s biggest netball leagues are up and running, so we are going to take a look at some of the key matches around the world this weekend. ANZ PREMIERSHIP MATCH OF THE ROUND Northern Stars vs. Central PulseSunday at 4pmPulman Arena, Auckland Although it is […]
Big margins the flavour of the NSL weekend
THE order of the weekend in the Netball Super League was big margins, with plenty of double digit margins across the menu. One of these was the London Pulse’s 21 goal win over the Strathclyde Sirens. Although it was one of the Sirens’ best performances scoring wise this season, it was not enough as the […]
PREVIEW | NSL Round 8 2024 – Two months down already
IT is now two months into the Netball Super League season, and the excitement and intrigue just continues to grow. MATCH OF THE ROUND Team Bath vs Leeds Rhinos It is not often that a match between the eighth and nine sides on the ladder is the match of the round, but this is a […]
Some NSL sides win big while others get an Easter wake up
THE Strathclyde Sirens are still looking for their first win of the 2024 NSL season after they were no match for the Loughborough Lightning, losing by 36 goals (72-36). Despite how lopsided the final score was, things started a lot more evenly, with it taking until the 11th centre pass for a centre pass to […]
PREVIEW | NSL Round 7 – One spicy Easter bonanza
IN a full Easter weekend bonanza, there are a couple of clashes this weekend in the NSL that may prove crucial for how the ladder may look come season’s end. GAME OF THE ROUND Saracens Mavericks vs Severn Stars This is an intriguing match up, and one that could prove very crucial for whichever side […]
Surprises aplenty as NSL reaches one-third done
ON a weekend that sprung up a few surprises, The Leeds Rhinos pushed the London Pulse all the way, but ultimately came up two goals short. After some clever double team defending from Halimat Adio and Funmi Fadoju, the Pulse were able to quickly rush out to a five goal to one lead to begin […]