London Mavericks delivered a composed and clinical performance under pressure to secure a dramatic victory over Cardiff Dragons in a match that had everything: momentum swings, long-range super shots, and a nail-biting finish.
It was George Inger who opened the scoring, setting the tone for what would become a fiercely contested encounter. Both Mavericks shooters were flawless in the opening quarter, maintaining an impressive 100% accuracy, while Jamie Golob made her presence felt defensively with five early deflections.
The first 10 minutes saw end-to-end netball, with both sides trading single goals. Mavericks looked to have the upper hand when Emma Thacker calmly sank the first Super Shot of the game, helping her side to a five-goal cushion with three minutes remaining.
But Dragons refused to back down. A late surge saw them claw their way back into contention, snatching the lead in the dying seconds to take a 15–13 advantage at the first break.
Mavericks responded immediately in the second quarter, drawing level within two minutes thanks to sharp movement in the circle from Thacker. The contest continued at a relentless pace, with neither side able to break away.
Suzie Liverseidge’s vision proved key, with the over-the-top ball creating attacking opportunities, but Dragons capitalised on their momentum heading into the Super Shot period, opening up a four-goal lead (26–22).
Razia Quashie stepped up defensively, applying relentless pressure to disrupt the Dragons’ flow and spark a Mavericks resurgence. The introduction of Emily Andrew proved inspired- she made an instant impact, sinking a long-range two-pointer on the buzzer to tie things up at 31–31 heading into halftime.
Mavericks finished the half shooting at 89% accuracy (24/27) and registering three gains in a tightly fought contest.
The second half began with smart attacking play, as Emily Andrew fed George Inger to give Mavericks their first lead of the half. However, Dragons quickly responded, reclaiming the advantage through their shooters.
With five minutes to play, Thacker returned to the court, adding fresh energy to the Mavericks attack. As Dragons began to find rhythm again, Mavericks called a tactical timeout to halt their momentum and it paid off.
In a tense closing minute, Mavericks drew level once more before Inger showed composure to slot a crucial one-pointer, giving her side a slender 45–44 lead heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter was a spectacle. Physical contests across the court, a roaring crowd, and a flurry of one- and two-point shots kept fans on the edge of their seats.
With the game hanging in the balance, both teams traded blows in a gripping finale. But when it mattered most, Mavericks held their composure. Their calm decision-making and clinical finishing in the closing moments proved decisive, as they edged a thrilling contest to secure a hard-fought victory.