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2021 Netball Superleague season | |
---|---|
League | Netball Superleague |
Sport | Netball |
Number of teams | 11 |
2021 Netball Superleague season | |
Season champions | Loughborough Lightning |
Runners-up | Team Bath |
Season MVP | Beth Cobden[1] |
Top scorer | Mary Cholhok Nuba[1] |
The 2021 Netball Superleague season was the sixteenth season of the Netball Superleague, the elite domestic netball competition in the United Kingdom. The season started on 12 February 2021. Manchester Thunder were the defending champions, as they won the 2019 season[2] and the 2020 season was cancelled after three rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Because of the ongoing pandemic, the first nine weeks of matches were held at Studio 001 in Wakefield, and the remaining matches were held at the Copper Box Arena in London. All matches were originally scheduled to be held behind closed doors, though from week 17 onwards, limited numbers of fans were permitted into matches, due to a change in the UK Government guidelines.
In the league section, Loughborough Lightning finished top, ahead of Manchester Thunder, Team Bath and Leeds Rhinos, who finished second, third and fourth respectively. The top three teams finished on the same number of points, and were separated by goal difference. Rhinos had their last two matches cancelled, as the squad had to isolate after one player tested positive for COVID-19. They were awarded the points and therefore qualified for the playoffs. In the semi-finals, Loughborough Lightning beat Leeds Rhinos and Team Bath beat Manchester Thunder. Lightning beat Bath in the final to win the competition.
The 2021 Netball Superleague season consisted of 11 teams; Leeds Rhinos joined the league for the first time.[4] The 2021 season used 12-minute quarters for player welfare reasons, reduced from the 15-minute quarters played in previous seasons.[5] League-stage matches could end in a draw; previously, extra time was used to determine a winner. On each match day a team could use a squad of 12 players.[6]
The fixture list consisted of 20 rounds, running from 12 February to 21 June. The semifinals were held on 26 June, and the grand final was on 27 June.[6] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches were expected to be held behind closed doors.[7] All players had to take COVID-19 tests twice a week.[5] The first nine weeks of matches were held at Studio 001 in Wakefield, and the remaining matches were held at the Copper Box Arena in London.[7] All matches were broadcast on Sky Sports (either on television or via YouTube),[8] and start times were scheduled two hours apart so that they could all be televised.[5] In May 2021, it was announced that for rounds 17 to 20 of matches, 1,000 fans would be permitted into matches, due to a change in the UK Government guidelines.[9] The same number of fans were permitted for the play-off matches.[10]
Team | Base |
---|---|
Celtic Dragons | Cardiff, Wales |
Leeds Rhinos | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
London Pulse | Stratford, Greater London |
Loughborough Lightning | Loughborough, Leicestershire |
Manchester Thunder | Manchester, Greater Manchester |
Saracens Mavericks | Hatfield, Hertfordshire |
Severn Stars | Worcester, Worcestershire |
Strathclyde Sirens | Glasgow, Scotland |
Surrey Storm | Guildford, Surrey |
Team Bath | Bath, Somerset |
Wasps | Coventry, West Midlands |
Source:[11]
Each team was allowed to have 10 players, 9 of whom were covered by the sport's salary cap. Teams could also register an additional five training players. Squads were only allowed 2 non-EU players, and these players were not allowed to play in the same third of the court simultaneously. The player signing window ran from 17 August to 30 October 2020.[12]
During the player signing window, Australians Madi Browne and Donnell Wallam signed for Leeds Rhinos, South African Lefébre Rademan signed for London Pulse, and South African Ine-Marí Venter signed for Saracens Mavericks. Jamaican Malysha Kelly signed for Severn Stars, Jamaican Gezelle Allison signed for Wasps, and Zimbabwe captain Felisitus Kwangwa signed for Surrey Storm.[13] At the domestic level, Leeds Rhinos signed English players Jade Clarke from Wasps and Vicki Oyesola from Loughborough Lightning. Beth Cobden signed for Loughborough Lightning.[4] Prior to the season, Manchester Thunder suspended one player for breaching COVID-19 restrictions on New Year's Eve 2020.[14]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Loughborough Lightning (Q) | 20 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 1084 | 803 | +281 | 51 | Qualified for the Finals series |
2 | Manchester Thunder (Q) | 20 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 1096 | 831 | +265 | 51 | |
3 | Team Bath (Q) | 20 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 950 | 747 | +203 | 51 | |
4 | Leeds Rhinos (Q) | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 884 | 856 | +28 | 36 | |
5 | Saracens Mavericks | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 882 | 862 | +20 | 34 | |
6 | Strathclyde Sirens | 20 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 824 | 844 | −20 | 32 | |
7 | Wasps | 20 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 884 | 804 | +80 | 31 | |
8 | London Pulse | 20 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 734 | 793 | −59 | 18 | |
9 | Severn Stars | 20 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 738 | 958 | −220 | 12 | |
10 | Surrey Storm | 20 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 775 | 970 | −195 | 9 | |
11 | Celtic Dragons | 20 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 675 | 1058 | −383 | 3 |
Source:[16]
12 February | Celtic Dragons | 35–65 | Leeds Rhinos | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
12 February | Strathclyde Sirens | 36–53 | Manchester Thunder | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
13 February | London Pulse | 40–42 | Surrey Storm | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
13 February | Team Bath | 61–29 | Celtic Dragons | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
13 February | Strathclyde Sirens | 36–30 | Severn Stars | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
14 February | Team Bath | 48–44 | Loughborough Lightning | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
14 February | Surrey Storm | 41–53 | Saracens Mavericks | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
14 February | Severn Stars | 34–53 | Wasps | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
15 February | Loughborough Lightning | 44–43 | Wasps | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
15 February | Leeds Rhinos | 39–43 | Saracens Mavericks | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
21 February | Surrey Storm | 44–50 | Leeds Rhinos | Studio 001 | |
12:00 |
21 February | Celtic Dragons | 35–52 | Strathclyde Sirens | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
21 February | Manchester Thunder | 57–30 | London Pulse | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
21 February | Loughborough Lightning | 60–35 | Saracens Mavericks | Studio 001 | |
20:00 |
22 February | Celtic Dragons | 40–56 | Surrey Storm | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
22 February | Wasps | 39–44 | Team Bath | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
28 February | Severn Stars | 27–60 | Manchester Thunder | Studio 001 | |
12:00 |
28 February | Strathclyde Sirens | 35–30 | London Pulse | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
28 February | Wasps | 46–33 | Surrey Storm | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
28 February | Leeds Rhinos | 41–70 | Loughborough Lightning | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
1 March | Celtic Dragons | 41–61 | Saracens Mavericks | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
1 March | Loughborough Lightning | 58–30 | Severn Stars | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
12 March | Severn Stars | 49–46 | Surrey Storm | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
12 March | Team Bath | 60–35 | Manchester Thunder | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
13 March | Surrey Storm | 37–56 | Loughborough Lightning | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
13 March | Team Bath | 49–30 | Severn Stars | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
13 March | Manchester Thunder | 44–53 | Wasps | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
14 March | Strathclyde Sirens | 34–34 | Saracens Mavericks | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
14 March | Loughborough Lightning | 52–40 | London Pulse | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
14 March | Wasps | 53–41 | Leeds Rhinos | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
15 March | London Pulse | 56–29 | Celtic Dragons | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
15 March | Leeds Rhinos | 43–39 | Strathclyde Sirens | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
21 March | Manchester Thunder | 69–33 | Celtic Dragons | Studio 001 | |
12:00 |
21 March | Saracens Mavericks | 39–32 | London Pulse | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
21 March | Surrey Storm | 30–50 | Team Bath | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
21 March | Strathclyde Sirens | 32–32 | Wasps | Studio 001 | |
20:00 |
22 March | Team Bath | 47–36 | Strathclyde Sirens | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
22 March | Leeds Rhinos | 42–38 | Severn Stars | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
28 March | Manchester Thunder | 48–41 | Leeds Rhinos | Studio 001 | |
12:00 |
28 March | London Pulse | 29–51 | Team Bath | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
28 March | Loughborough Lightning | 43–38 | Strathclyde Sirens | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
28 March | Wasps | 52–38 | Celtic Dragons | Studio 001 | |
20:00 |
29 March | Saracens Mavericks | 53–36 | Severn Stars | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
29 March | London Pulse | 38–40 | Leeds Rhinos | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
4 April | Manchester Thunder | 59–50 | Loughborough Lightning | Studio 001 | |
12:00 |
4 April | Severn Stars | 33–27 | Celtic Dragons | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
4 April | London Pulse | 37–49 | Wasps | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
4 April | Saracens Mavericks | 39–38 | Team Bath | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
5 April | Severn Stars | 36–41 | London Pulse | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
5 April | Saracens Mavericks | 37–59 | Manchester Thunder | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
9 April | Strathclyde Sirens | 35–61 | Loughborough Lightning | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
9 April | Leeds Rhinos | 46–52 | Team Bath | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
10 April | Surrey Storm | 33–45 | Strathclyde Sirens | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
10 April | Team Bath | 37–27 | London Pulse | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
10 April | Celtic Dragons | 23–76 | Loughborough Lightning | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
11 April | Surrey Storm | 35–52 | Manchester Thunder | Studio 001 | |
14:00 |
11 April | Celtic Dragons | 38–52 | Wasps | Studio 001 | |
16:00 |
11 April | Severn Stars | 34–54 | Saracens Mavericks | Studio 001 | |
18:00 |
12 April | Wasps | 38–34 | Saracens Mavericks | Studio 001 | |
17:15 |
12 April | Leeds Rhinos | 47–66 | Manchester Thunder | Studio 001 | |
19:15 |
25 April | Celtic Dragons | 34–51 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena | |
12:00 |
25 April | Severn Stars | 37–45 | Strathclyde Sirens | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
25 April | Saracens Mavericks | 48–63 | Leeds Rhinos | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
25 April | Wasps | 42–52 | Loughborough Lightning | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
26 April | Wasps | 53–27 | Severn Stars | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
26 April | Surrey Storm | 41–43 | London Pulse | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
30 April | Surrey Storm | 39–48 | Celtic Dragons | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
30 April | Saracens Mavericks | 47–55 | Loughborough Lightning | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
1 May | Surrey Storm | 39–46 | Severn Stars | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
1 May | London Pulse | 38–48 | Strathclyde Sirens | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
1 May | Saracens Mavericks | 59–39 | Celtic Dragons | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
2 May | Strathclyde Sirens | 51–69 | Leeds Rhinos | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
2 May | London Pulse | 42–50 | Manchester Thunder | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
2 May | Team Bath | 41–37 | Wasps | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
3 May | Manchester Thunder | 41–44 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
3 May | Leeds Rhinos | 51–41 | Wasps | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
9 May | Severn Stars | 41–50 | Loughborough Lightning | Copper Box Arena | |
12:00 |
9 May | Team Bath | 59–43 | Leeds Rhinos | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
9 May | Strathclyde Sirens | 52–39 | Surrey Storm | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
9 May | Celtic Dragons | 40–54 | Manchester Thunder | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
10 May | Loughborough Lightning | 53–28 | Surrey Storm | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
10 May | Wasps | 42–37 | London Pulse | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
16 May | Severn Stars | 36–63 | Leeds Rhinos | Copper Box Arena | |
12:00 |
16 May | Team Bath | 55–39 | Surrey Storm | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
16 May | Wasps | 39–44 | Strathclyde Sirens | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
16 May | Manchester Thunder | 60–42 | Saracens Mavericks | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
17 May | Wasps | 47–53 | Manchester Thunder | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
17 May | London Pulse | 35–42 | Loughborough Lightning | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
From Round 17 onwards, matches were held with a limited number of spectators.[17]
28 May | Celtic Dragons | 30–51 | London Pulse | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
28 May | Severn Stars | 32–45 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
29 May | Loughborough Lightning | 59–35 | Celtic Dragons | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
29 May | Manchester Thunder | 54–43 | Severn Stars | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
29 May | Strathclyde Sirens | 37–48 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
30 May | Loughborough Lightning | 59–51 | Leeds Rhinos | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
30 May | Saracens Mavericks | 35–41 | Strathclyde Sirens | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
30 May | Manchester Thunder | 57–41 | Surrey Storm | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
31 May | Leeds Rhinos | 49–39 | Surrey Storm | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
31 May | Saracens Mavericks | 41–37 | Wasps | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
The match between Surrey Storm and Wasps was postponed due to one Wasps player testing positive for COVID-19.[18] The match was rearranged for 21 June after all COVID tests came back negative.[19]
13 June | Strathclyde Sirens | 53–34 | Celtic Dragons | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
13 June | Team Bath | 35–46 | Saracens Mavericks | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
13 June | London Pulse | 42–40 | Severn Stars | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
14 June | London Pulse | 46–33 | Saracens Mavericks | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
14 June | Loughborough Lightning | 46–60 | Manchester Thunder | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
21 June[a] | Surrey Storm | 39–35 | Wasps | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
Leeds Rhinos had their last two matches against London Pulse and Celtic Dragons cancelled, as their squad had to isolate after one of their squad tested positive for COVID-19. As Rhinos had beaten Pulse and Dragons earlier in the season, they were awarded the points for both matches, and qualified for the play-offs as a result.[19]
20 June | Saracens Mavericks | 48–35 | Surrey Storm | Copper Box Arena | |
12:00 |
20 June | Manchester Thunder | 64–37 | Strathclyde Sirens | Copper Box Arena | |
14:00 |
20 June | Celtic Dragons | 39–45 | Severn Stars | Copper Box Arena | |
16:00 |
20 June | Leeds Rhinos | Cancelled | London Pulse | Copper Box Arena | |
18:00 |
21 June | Leeds Rhinos | Cancelled | Celtic Dragons | Copper Box Arena | |
17:15 |
21 June | Loughborough Lightning | 54–35 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena | |
19:15 |
In the finals series, the team finishing first in the league section played the team finishing fourth, and the team that finished second played the third-placed team. The top three teams finished the league section on the same number of points, and were separated by goal difference.[20]
Source for fixtures:[16]
26 June 14:00 |
Loughborough Lightning | 58–38 | Leeds Rhinos | Copper Box Arena | Sky Sports |
26 June 16:00 |
Manchester Thunder | 38–41 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena | Sky Sports |
Loughborough Lightning had previously played in three Grand Finals, whilst Team Bath had not appeared in a Grand Final sine 2013. Lightning took the lead in the first quarter, and were 11–7 up after one quarter. They maintained the lead, and by the end of the third quarter, they were ahead 31–24. Lightning won the grand final for the first time.[21]
27 June 17:30 |
Report Stats |
Loughborough Lightning | 49–32 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena | Sky Sports | |
Scoring by quarter: 11–7, 11–7, 9–10, 18–8 | |||||||
Cholhok 38/41 (93%) Clark 11/13 (85%) |
Borger 22/24 (92%) Drakeford-Lewis 4/5 (80%) |