NXT Gen League Unwrapped: Rounds 1-4

A new era for netball was ushered in by the launch of the NXT Gen League as the brightest talent went head-to-head across the country.

After the first four rounds of competition, London Pulse top the table having won all three of their matches to be the only undefeated side in the competition.

Here's how it all happened:

Pulse started their NXT Gen campaign with a hard fought 53-52 win over Loughborough Lightning before overpowering Birmingham Panthers 64-46 in Round 2.

The third round of fixtures saw Pulse maintain their winning start after inflicting a first defeat of the campaign on Team Bath, running out 56-40 winners at the Team Bath Arena after leading by 12 goals at the break.

Elsewhere, Manchester Thunder began their season with a 60-50 defeat of LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons before spoiling London Mavericks' league debut with a 45-36 win in Round 2.

Thunder then held off a determined Nottingham Forest 60-58, though they would suffer their first loss of the campaign to Birmingham Panthers, as they were beaten 55-41 by the West Midlands side.

Panthers picked up their first win since coming into existence with a thrilling 44-43 defeat of NIC Leeds Rhinos before falling to Pulse in Round 2.

The following round of fixtures saw Panthers return to winning ways 50-48 victory over London Mavericks before overcoming Manchester Thunder in Round 4.

Team Bath opened proceedings with a 62-53 defeat of Nottingham Forest in front of a sell-out home crowd, with captain Lily Jones picking up the player of the match award after converting 92% of her shots and recording two intercepts.

Jones' side then came from behind to take down Cardiff Dragons 52-44 before falling to London Pulse in Round 3 after a physical contest.

Round 4 saw Team Bath take to the road for the first time when they paid a trip to London Mavericks. 

Buoyed by a player-of-the-match display from shooter Dani Carr on her NXT Gen League debut, Bath overturned a seven-goal deficit to defeat Mavericks 52-51.

The West Country sit in fifth with Pulse and Thunder above them on points difference and Birmingham Panthers hot on their heels as all four teams have picked up nine points so far.

Loughborough Lightning linger in fifth after a mixed start to the campaign, losing out to Pulse in the opener before picking up wins against Leeds Rhinos and Cardiff Dragons.

Further down the table sees Forest in sixth after two losses and a win against Leeds Rhinos, followed by the Yorkshire-based side in seventh after picking up their only win of the campaign so far with a 43-41 defeat of Dragons.  

Rounding out the standings are Mavericks and Dragons, both of whom are yet to record wins.

The fifth round of the NXT Gen league begins on 14 March with all four games acting as curtain raisers for the beginning of the Netball Super League season.

Image: Eva Gilbert