The opening fixture of the NXT Gen League saw London Mavericks welcome Manchester Thunder to their home court at the University of Bedfordshire. After a long and demanding pre-season, Mavericks hit the ground running, delivering a statement performance against the league giants. With attacking and defensive flair throughout the contest.
Mavericks secured a commanding opening victory, pulling away in the final stages to claim a 69–58 win and an emphatic 11-goal margin. That convincing Round 1 performance sees London Mavericks sit proudly at the top of the league standings for goals scored, and second in the overall league table, laying down an early marker for the season ahead.
LDN MAVERICKS NXTGEN LINEUP: (GK) Hannah Passmore, (GA) Cerys Cairns, (WA) Sascha Dale, (C) Hannah Knightbridge, (WD) Holly James, (GD) Cerys Finn ©, (GK) Neve Wright
IMPACT PLAYERS: Azara Wilmot, Izzy Pennycooke, Lola Stevens, Izzy Howse, Scarlett Creasey
Quarter one set the tone for the NXT Gen Super Shot era, with both sides attacking confidently as they settled into the contest. The Super Shot quickly proved its value, keeping the scoreboard moving at both ends. Midway through the quarter, Mavericks found momentum through sharp midcourt connections, allowing them to edge ahead in the latter stages.
Thunder responded late with well-timed Super Shots to cut the margin back to one, but a strong and composed opening from London Mavericks saw them take a narrow 16–15 lead at the first break. With no changes to the lineup, Mavericks carried that momentum into the second quarter.
Momentum carried seamlessly into the second quarter, with both sides producing calm, composed netball across the court. The contest remained finely balanced as one- and two-point shooting at either end kept the scoreboard ticking and the lead constantly in dispute.
With the lineup unchanged, Mavericks showed resilience and composure, digging deep to preserve their slender advantage as Thunder continued to apply pressure. At the main break, London Mavericks held firm with a narrow one-goal lead, edging ahead 33–32 at half time.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point for London Mavericks as intensity lifted across the court, led by relentless defensive pressure. Mavericks disrupted Thunder’s attacking flow, forcing unforced errors and capitalising on turnovers around the shooting circle. A defensive switch saw Scarlett Creasey introduced in place of Neve Wright, injecting fresh energy and further tightening the screws in the defensive third.
Riding a wave of confidence, Mavericks dominated the quarter 24–11, opening up a commanding lead and heading into the final period firmly in control at 54–43.
Composure and control defined the final quarter as London Mavericks worked cohesively across attack and defence to protect their 11-goal advantage. Patient build-up play and disciplined defensive efforts ensured Thunder were kept at arm’s length throughout the closing 15 minutes. Hannah Passmore remained assured in attack, calmly converting under pressure to keep the scoreboard ticking when it mattered most.
Azara Wilmot entered the contest to provide fresh legs and a new attacking angle, helping to further unsettle the Thunder defence, while Hannah Knightbridge orchestrated proceedings through the midcourt, dictating the tempo and managing the final moments with maturity. A consistent and commanding performance secured a deserved opening-round victory, seeing London Mavericks sit second in the league table. Attention now turns to next week as Mavericks prepare to travel to Cardiff to take on Cardiff Dragons NXT Gen.
