Saracens Mavericks vs London Pulse - 3 April 2023 - NSL Rd10

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

HEAD COACH’S

WELCOME CAMILLA BUCHANAN

GOOD AFTERNOON AND A VERY WARM WELCOME TO HSV FOR THIS EVENING’S GAME AGAINST LONDON PULSE.

We’ve had a week since our last match against Manchester Thunder in front of a sell-out HSV crowd and I’m so happy that we have another sold out crowd cheering us on again this evening.

Your support means the world to myself, the staff and the players and really helps build the confidence every time we come on court.

At full-time last week, I described the match against Thunder as one that got away and having had a chance to reflect on the performance as a group, there is a genuine belief that we could have secured a result against the league champions.

This season is all about the journey as a squad, as we look to translate new ideas and new connections into performances on the court.

We’ve put ourselves in a position where we need to secure a victory against one of the sides above us in the table in order to really put a marker down for this second half of the season.

Our new players have settled in well and I was also thrilled last week with the impact that our players made off the bench as well. To see the likes of Britney Clarke and Georgia Lees coming onto the court and taking control of the game is incredibly pleasing to see and highlights the depth in the group.

I also want to congratulate Eliza Barclay on becoming Maverick #106 last weekend. She is a young player with so much potential and to see her on court was amazing.

Enjoy the game

SCENE SETTER

SARACENS MAVERICKS ARE BACK AT HSV FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW, WITH A CRUCIAL MATCH IN STORE AGAINST LONDON PULSE.

After running Manchester Thunder close last Sunday, Camilla Buchanan’s side come up against another side that are currently nestled in the top four places, knowing that a victory would provide a huge boost going into the second half of the season.

London Pulse have been in strong form from the off in 2023, with only one defeat to their name thus far against Thunder. They come into this one off the back of a nailbiting victory over Loughborough Lightning last Monday that leaves them currently sat third in the table, just three points behind Surrey Storm and Thunder.

With the Monday night crowd ready to cheer on Mavericks and a second sold out home fixture in succession, this one is set to be a thriller from the off, with both sides knowing that a victory could ignite their seasons.

It’s a local rivalry, with all to play for and we can’t wait to see the action on court.

SARACENS MAVERICKS PATHWAY NEWS

It’s been another busy week for the Mavericks Pathway, with personal accolades and more matches played.

Maisey Maclennan has been selected for Scotland U19s ahead of their match later this month against Wales, after impressing on court this season, whilst our U19, U21 and U23 sides all enjoyed their final training session of the 2023 NPL season. As always, our thanks go to University of Hertfordshire for their support.

Our U17, U19 and U21s sides took on Team Bath this weekend. In two hotly contested matches, it finished with Bath securing victory in both matches at Nottingham.

For the U21s, they were level at 11-11 after a tight start, before Bath rallied back into the match to lead 28-22 at half time, before going on to secure a 52-37 victory.

The U17s secured a fast start to take a 6-2 lead in their match, but they were unable to hold Bath back, despite only trailing by three at the break. In the end, Bath pulled clear, to secure a 62-41 victory.

For the U21s, Izzy Howse was named as Coaches Player of the Match, Tori Fisher as Players’ Player and Phoebe Ecuyer-Dale as Opposition’s Player of the Match.

It’s such an amazing feeling knowing that we have the crowd behind us.

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Monique Meyer has already proved herself to be a calming presence at the back for the Mavs since arriving in the off-season. Having never played in the NSL before, she was quickly found her feet and excelled for Camilla Buchanan’s side.

Meyer has already formed strong partnerships with Jodie Gibson and Christina Shaw this season and, with Razia Quashie due to return from injury, she feels that there is real strength in the defensive unit.

“We have grown so much as a unit and there are still hard yards that needs to be done. But the connections are really strong now and we really know each other’s strengths. We’re excited to have Razia back too, as she is rocksolid at the back.”

After defeat last Sunday against Manchester Thunder, Mavericks have been keen to go back to basics this week in training.

“The main focus this week was to focus a lot on what we did in pre-season, going back to basics and making our base stronger. We’re really working on driving ball and creating more turnovers.”

Mavericks may have secured a victory over London Pulse in pre-season, but Meyer is expecting their opposition to “bring their Agame” this evening.

“They have a lot of experienced players, but also young up and coming players that have a lot to show. I think it’s going to be a hard match, but a great one to watch.”

Meyer and her teammates will be roared on by another sell out crowd at HSV and the South African admits that it is a special feeling to run out and hear their support.

“It's such an amazing feeling knowing that the crowd is behind us. When you play and you hear the crowd cheering you on it just motivates you to want to do more and do better.”

This evening’s match marks the halfway point of the season and Meyer believes that there is still more to come from her side.

“The first half of the season was definitely a learning curve. I believe that we still have loads to offer. I back my team and we know that if we play the way we can, we can pick up more wins."

TODAY’S OPPONENTS

LONDON PULSE

CURRENTLY SITTING IN THIRD PLACE IN THE LEAGUE, LONDON PULSE ARE PROVING TO BE UP FOR THE FIGHT THIS SEASON.

Based at the Copper Box Arena, London Pulse have continued to go from strength to strength since entering the Netball Super League in 2019.

Last season, they finished third in the league, before coming up short in the semi-finals against Loughborough Lightning, marking their best season in the NSL to date, after several years of gradual improvement.

Pulse are yet to lose away from home this season and, in Funmi Fadoju, they have one of the best defensive players in the league.

With a squad packed with talent at their disposal, Pulse will no doubt be looking to continue their strong form this evening.

NETBALL SUPER LEAGUE LEAGUE TABLE

ROUND TEN RESULTS

TEAM BATH 61-54 LEEDS RHINOS

MANCHESTER THUNDER 64-51 STRATHCLYDE SIRENS

LEEDS RHINOS 55-46 CELTIC DRAGONS

SEVERN STARS 41-61 LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

PLAYER PROFILES 2022/23

MAVS FALL SHORT AGAINST THUNDER

DESPITE AN IMPRESSIVE FINAL QUARTER AND A RESILIANT COMEBACK EFFORT, SARACENS MAVERICKS WERE LEFT

WONDERING WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, AS THEY SUFFERED DEFEAT TO MANCHESTER THUNDER.

Two nights after an impressive comeback victory over Team Bath, Mavericks were back at home in front of a sell out crowd and eager to secure a victory that would make the rest of the league stand up and take notice.

After sustaining an eye injury against Team Bath, Christina Shaw was ruled out of this one as a precautionary measure, with Eliza Barclay named in the squad for the first time in her place.

Roared on by a vocal crowd, Mavericks looked to make a fast start, but they came up against an inspired Thunder side.

Any hopes of putting instant pressure on Thunder were quickly extinguished as the champions raced ahead after five minutes, to leave the side facing a mountain to climb.

Despite Ine-Mari Venter showing the same sort of form as she showed on Friday against Bath, it was hard going for Mavs against a physical Thunder side.

Despite Jodie Gibson continuing to make an impact in defence, Thunder were pulling clear, as Mavs faced down the barrel of a thirteen goal deficit midway through the second quarter.

Things took another turn for Mavericks before the halftime break too, with Ine-Mari Venter limping from the court, with Britney Clarke coming on in her place.

Clarke picked up where Venter had left off, hauling her side back into proceedings with some clever movement and sharp shooting, to reduce the deficit to eight at the break.

Aliyah Zaranyika was continuing to display the fine form she has shown in recent weeks, as she continued to excel in the Wing Defence role, with Georgia Lees doing well to open up the court, having come on as Wing Attack in place of Sasha Corbin.

When Mavs pulled the gap back to six, there was a feeling that something special could be brewing at HSV.

Thunder though, kept their composure and displayed the qualities that saw them secure the league title last season, to grab a few crucial goals at the end of the quarter.

As the final quarter continued, Mavericks continued to huff and puff, keeping Thunder at bay and forcing the Mancunians into a series of errors in transition.

Lees was continuing her impressive afternoon, alongside Centre Beth Ecuyer-Dale, as Camilla Buchanan’s bench continued to make a positive impact on the match.

In the end, Mavericks ran out of time, despite winning the final quarter and continuing to press forward, with the squad feeling like it was one that got away against the league champions.

SARACENS MAVERICKS COMMUNITY CORNER

After the success of our first CPD session with Tamsin Greenway, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to our next two sessions on 22nd April, with Colette Thomson MBE hosting a session on creating turnovers and Bern Palmer and Sheelagh Redpath running an officiating workshop.

With the price of the session including matchday admission, make sure you don’t miss out!

We have some amazing Easter camps coming up in April, across a number of locations.

Camps are on sale for £37.50 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hatfield, Bedford and Chelmsford.

If you’re in Milton Keynes, make sure to sign up to the session on 13th April at Oakgrove School.

Click here to view our upcoming camps

Why not sign up for one of our fantastic festivals in May?

On 1st May, we are hosting a club festival for U11 and U13s, ahead of the Mavericks vs Loughborough NSL match.

On 22nd May, we are hosting a schools festival for years 5 and 6 ahead of the match against Team Bath,