Last season¿s defeated Grand Finalists, Mavericks look to be running into form at exactly the right point of the Co-operative Netball Superleague, following up last weekend¿s impressive win with a convincing 61-21 victory against Celtic Dragons.
Beaten finalists continue run of form against Welsh side.
Last season's defeated Grand Finalists, Mavericks look to be running into form at exactly the right point of the Co-operative Netball Superleague, following up last weekend's impressive win with a convincing 61-21 victory against Celtic Dragons.
But the Welsh invitation side will take heart with the way that they kept pace with the Hertfordshire-based side for much of the match, refusing to be bowed by the home team's superior speed and power.
For Mavericks, the England centre court unit of Karen Atkinson, Clare Elsley and Naomi Siddall was simply sensational, driving the ball through to their shooters with lightning speed and accuracy.
Louisa Brownfield was once again her side's most prolific shooter, netting 33/40, and was ably supported by England A's Gemma Wiseman in the first half with 10/14 and another England A star, Monique Wood 18/23 in the second.
Mavericks led 17-5 at the first interval and kept the pressure on during the second quarter, despite the efforts of Dragons' player/coach Anna Mayes who came on to counter the centre court pace of Elsley for the second period.
The Dragons shooters found life very difficult against England captain Amanda Newton and Claire Higham in the first half, and the pressure remained intense when Higham was replaced by the aerially strong Nicole McFarlane in the second half.
England U21 Lindsay Keable came on at GK for Dragons in the second half, and her reach initially slowed the Mavericks attack. But Atkinson, in particular, was soon dominant once more and with the towering Brownfield now at GA, Dragons could not counteract the drive and power of the Mavericks attack.
Mavericks are now in fourth place in the league table, level on points with TeamBath, and three points clear of fifth placed side Brunel Hurricanes.
