Leeds Rhinos Triumph Over Birmingham Panthers in Thrilling Netball Super League Opener

The 2025 Netball Super League season kicked off with an exhilarating match as Leeds Rhinos overcame a halftime deficit to secure a 71-63 victory against debutants Birmingham Panthers. The Panthers initially led 38-36 at the break, but the Rhinos capitalized on the new Super Shot rule, which allows shooters to score double points from a designated area in the circle during the final five minutes of each quarter.

Joyce Mvula, the Rhinos' shooter, delivered a standout performance, earning the Player of the Match title for her exceptional shooting range, both close to the post and from distance. Despite a late surge from the Panthers, they couldn't narrow the gap sufficiently to earn a point under the new rule that rewards teams losing by five goals or less.

Birmingham Panthers, along with Nottingham Forest, are new additions to the eight-team league following the exclusion of Team Bath, Surrey Storm, Severn Stars, and Strathclyde Sirens. Meanwhile, London Mavericks also made a strong start to their campaign, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat Cardiff Dragons 65-56.

The opening round provided fans with their first glimpse of the new rules in action, particularly the Super Shot, aimed at increasing competition and making matches more thrilling. The league's move towards professionalisation was evident, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.

Upcoming Fixtures:

• Sunday, 16 March
  • London Pulse v Nottingham Forest (17:00 GMT) - BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app
  • Manchester Thunder v Loughborough Lightning (18:30 GMT)