Mvula rises to second on UK netball scorers chart
Malawi Queens shooter Joyce Mvula’s incredible scoring form on Sunday inspired her Vitality Netball SuperLeague club Manchester Thunder to a 59-50 victory over Loughborough Lightning.
Her top form has also helped her move two steps up the scorers’ chart to second.
According to statistics on the league’s website www.netballsl.com, the 27-year-old has so far scored 233 baskets, 103 baskets less than the leading scorer Mary Cholhok of Lightning and two ahead of third-best scorer Kimberly Borger of Team Bath. They have nine appearances apiece.
On Sunday, Mvula scored 36 of her team’s baskets, representing a 94.7 percent shooting accuracy, to help her side maintain its grip on the fifth place on the 11-team logtable with 18 points, six points behind leaders Team Bath, who have played a game more.
According to a match report on the league’s website, Thunder trailed 14-15 in the first quarter, but incredible defence and Mvula’s precision shooting were enough to turn the tables as the reigning champions led 31-26 and 42-41 in the subsequent segments.
The report reads in part: “Thunder managed to hold onto a six-goal lead throughout most of the last quarter largely due to every Thunder player excelling in their area.
“A combination of [Kelly] Almond’s play against [Mary] Cholhok, [Laura] Malcolm’s footspeed, [Caroline] O’Hanlon’s amazing set ups and both [Eleanor] Cardwell and Mvula’s precision shooting all managed to seal the deal for Thunder, finishing the game on 59-50 where holding Loughborough to 50 goals was quite the feat.”
Mvula yesterday said it felt good to help her team and she was happy that she has risen on the scorers’ chart.
“I am happy that we pulled away to a great victory. That was a fantastic performance and it was down to team work. I am also delighted to move up on the scorers chart, but what is more important is that I helped my team win,” she said.
Her compatriot and Strathclyde Sirens goalkeeper Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda is also in an incredible form in the United Kingdom’s elite netball league as she leads the pack on the list of players with the most intercepts and turnovers.
With 31 intercepts, she is four better than her closest contender Razia Quashie of Saracen Mavericks. On turnovers, she has 45, five ahead of second-best Josie Huckle of Wasps.
