2021 Netball Superleague season
LeagueNetball Superleague
SportNetball
Number of teams11
2021 Netball Superleague season
Season championsLoughborough Lightning
  Runners-upTeam Bath
Season MVPBeth Cobden[1]
Top scorerMary 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.

Overview

Format

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]

Teams

Team Base
Celtic DragonsCardiff, Wales
Leeds RhinosLeeds, West Yorkshire
London PulseStratford, Greater London
Loughborough LightningLoughborough, Leicestershire
Manchester ThunderManchester, Greater Manchester
Saracens MavericksHatfield, Hertfordshire
Severn StarsWorcester, Worcestershire
Strathclyde SirensGlasgow, Scotland
Surrey StormGuildford, Surrey
Team BathBath, Somerset
WaspsCoventry, West Midlands

Source:[11]

Squads

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]

Table

2021 Netball Superleague table[15]
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
(Q) Qualify for the 2021 Netball Superleague Play-offs.

League stage

Source:[16]

Rounds 1 & 2

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

Round 3

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

Round 4

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

Round 5 & 6

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

Round 7

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

Round 8

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

Round 9

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

Round 10 & 11

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

Round 12

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

Rounds 13 & 14

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

Round 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

Round 16

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

Rounds 17 & 18

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

Round 19

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[lower-alpha 1] Surrey Storm 39–35 Wasps Copper Box Arena  
17:15

Round 20

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

Finals series

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]

Semi-finals

26 June
14:00		 Loughborough Lightning58–38Leeds Rhinos    Copper Box Arena Sky Sports
26 June
16:00		 Manchester Thunder38–41Team Bath    Copper Box Arena Sky Sports

Grand Final

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 Lightning49–32Team Bath    Copper Box Arena Sky Sports
Scoring by quarter: 11–7, 11–7, 9–10, 18–8
Cholhok Goals scored 38/41 (93%)
Clark Goals scored 11/13 (85%)		 Borger Goals scored 22/24 (92%)
Drakeford-Lewis Goals scored 4/5 (80%)

Notes

  1. ↑ Postponed from 13 June due to a positive COVID-19 test.

References

  1. 1 2 "Vitality Netball Superleague Awards 2021: Cobden wins top prize". Netball Superleague. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Netball Superleague Grand Final: Manchester Thunder win 57–52 against Wasps". BBC Sport. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Netball Superleague: 2020 season terminated with immediate effect". BBC Sport. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Netball Superleague squads for the 2021 season". BBC Sport. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "Twelve-minute quarters and two venues – Superleague season to return with a difference". The Daily Telegraph. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Vitality Netball Superleague 2021: Fixtures, venues and rules". Sky Sports. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Netball Superleague to begin on 12 February with all matches behind closed doors". BBC Sport. 2 February 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "England Netball signs multi-year broadcast partnership with Sky Sports". England Netball. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Fans to return in venue for remaining Vitality Netball Superleague games". Netball Superleague. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "Netball Superleague 2021: Four teams battle for title on finals weekend". BBC Sport. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Fixtures & Results". Netball Superleague. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "2021 Squads". Netball Superleague. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Vitality Netball Superleague's exciting new imports for 2021". Sky Sports. 11 November 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "England Netball supports decision to suspend player who breached Covid restrictions on New Year's Eve". The Daily Telegraph. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "Table". Netball Superleague. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Fixtures & Results". Netball Superleague. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Vitality Netball Superleague: London Pulse and Team Bath victorious as netball fans return". Sky Sports. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Vitality Netball Superleague: Surrey Storm versus Wasps in Round 19 postponed". Sky Sports. 13 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Vitality Netball Superleague: Leeds Rhinos Netball fixtures cancelled and Rhinos awarded points". Sky Sports. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  20. ↑ "Netball Superleague 2021: Loughborough Lightning finish top, Manchester Thunder take second". BBC Sport. 21 June 2021. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "Netball Superleague 2021: Loughborough Lightning beat Team Bath in final". BBC Sport. 27 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
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