Co-operative Netball Superleague Team Northumbria 30 Mavericks 49 MAVERICKS go into their play-off game with Team Bath at the weekend on the back of a fine 49-30 away win over Team Northumbria. In their last Superleague match prior to the play-offs, prep

Co-operative Netball Superleague

Team Northumbria 30 Mavericks 49

MAVERICKS go into their play-off game with Team Bath at the weekend on the back of a fine 49-30 away win over Team Northumbria.

In their last Superleague match prior to the play-offs, preparation was crucial for the Hatfield-based Mavericks.

They pulled ahead at a furious rate in the first quarter on Monday night, only to be thwarted by strong defending and accurate shooting that produced a stalemate.

A change in the centre court brought Ann Marie Muller on for Mavericks and Karen Atkinson to centre.

The alteration created more space and quicker feeding into both shooters.

However, the game was about the ends. Both attacking units struggled to feed their shooters easily due to strong defending.

The third quarter saw Monique Wood brought on as goal attack and Mavericks continued to create some flowing moves from turnovers in the defending third.

The drive by the Galleria sponsored Mavericks is something that the coaching team will want to see in the play-offs.

Going into the fourth quarter both teams made further changes and the final result was a 49-30 win for the Mavericks.

England international Louisa Brownfield led the scoring on the night for Mavericks with 36 from 41 attempts.

Monique Wood netted 10 from 17 and Michelle Hall grabbed three from eight.

Now the real competition starts as the regulation league is finished, with Mavericks finishing in fourth spot.

In the play-offs round one, Mavericks must beat Bath in Sheffield on Saturday if they are to get to the second round.

Loughborough or Northumbria will be waiting for the winners.