Loughborough Lightning will play the Australian Netball Diamonds next Wednesday (7 October) as the world number ones warm-up for the forthcoming World Netball Series in Manchester.
Lightning have been chosen as the Diamonds’ only warm-up opposition in the UK for a match that will test out the new playing rules being debuted at the World Series.
Under the new regulations, matches have been reduced to four six-minute quarters, with each team electing a Power Play quarter where their points scored are doubled. Shooters can now score from both inside and outside the goal circle with shots netted from outside worth double points and unlimited rolling substitutions have been introduced.
Loughborough player-coach Olivia Murphy, who faced Australia countless times during her international career with England, is looking forward to welcoming the Diamonds to the University.
“It’s a great opportunity for what is a young Lightning side to play against the best in the world,” she said. “For players like Sarah-Jane O’Sullivan and Katie Rose, who played against Australia at the Under-21 World Championships, it will good to see what’s expected from them at the next level.
“We’re definitely underdogs, but it gives the girls the chance to use all the skills they’ve picked up during their netball careers, and even try something new, against the world number ones. The new rules will add extra excitement to the match.”
Lightning will be missing their own internationals Jo Harten and Jade Clarke who are training with England ahead of the World Series, but the side receives a boost in the form of England squad members and Mavericks players Louisa Brownfield and Naida Hutchinson who have been drafted in to gain crucial match exposure.
