Saturday 18 February 2017 11:04, UK
Hertfordshire Mavericks were the first winners of the 2017 Vitality Superleague season, edging out Team Northumbria 53-48 on Friday night.
Beaten in the semi-finals last year, the Mavericks have undergone a host of summer changes and were given a tough test by Team Northumbria before eventually emerging triumphant thanks to a dominant start to the second half.
New coach Robyn Broughton selected a starting seven that featured just two of the line-up beaten by Surrey Storm last year as the Mavs looked to begin with victory, but it was the impressive visitors who started strongly despite being without injured New Zealander Katarina Cooper.
Te Aroha Keenan's team surged into 10-6 lead, capitalising on turnover ball to open up an early advantage at Herts Sports Village thanks to the youthful attacking pair of Chiara Semple and Georgia Rowe.
The Mavericks hit back to end the quarter all-square at 13-13 and it was more of the same in the second period with little between the teams, Mavs edging the quarter by a single goal to have the narrowest of advantages at the break.
New Mavs shooter Vicklyn Joseph impressed. Replacing last year's Superleague Player of the Year Sam Wallace was never going to be easy but she linked up well with the tenacious Sophie Hankin and the pair proved crucial to securing the victory.
The start to the second half proved to be the deciding factor with a 10-4 run for the Mavericks opening up a lead that Northumbria were unable to claw back.
Despite their brave attempts, a five-goal difference heading in the final quarter was too much to make up with Player of the Match Razia Quashie standing firm in the Mavs defence.
Herts managed to maintain the lead which never got below four goals as they closed out victory to begin the season, while Northumbria, who finished sixth last season, showed they will again be no pushovers.
Three other games take place on Saturday with the final game of the opening week live on Sky Sports on Tuesday when Sirens meet Wasps at Glasgow's Emirates Arena before all 10 teams play on the same day next weekend.
Super 10s comes from Birmingham's Genting Arena with five matches scheduled back-to-back.
Mavericks - (GK) Keable; (GD) Quashie; (WD) Everitt; (C) Grant; (WA) Neal; (GA) Hankin; (GS) Joseph.
Team Northumbria - (GK) Keenan; (GD) Kennedy; (WD) Burgess; (C) Robinson; (WA) Grierson; (GA) Semple; (GS) Rowe.
Watch Sirens v Wasps on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports 2 on Tuesday from 7.15pm. You can follow all the Vitality Superleague action on Sky Sports Mix through the season and across our Sky Sports platforms. Follow us @SkyNetball
