Netball Superleague round-up: No sisterly love lost in Wales - 'We always throw a few elbows in'
Unlike other sporting siblings, Kyra Jones and Ashleigh Neal do not enforce a blackout period of no contact with one another before they come face to face on the court. Far from it, in fact.
The sisters not only spent last weekend together, but even drove to the match and went for pre-game coffee together on Monday before heading for opposite changing rooms ahead of Celtic Dragons' match against London Pulse.
Standing on opposite sides of the court is nothing new for them. With Jones, 33, a Dragons veteran and Neal, 30, currently at her fourth Superleague club, sibling rivalry has become a regular feature for the pair on the netball court. Bragging rights are close to equal over the course of their careers, but this time honours went the way of Jones, whose side triumphed 62-51.
Born and raised in Perth, Australia, the sisters played together at the same state league club in their late teenage years before Jones emigrated to Wales - who she represents internationally - in 2010. Since then they have been firm rivals.
"To us it's just another day in the office - We don't treat each other any differently," says Neal. "We don't back off each other and make sure we go just as physical as we would with any other players. We always throw a few elbows in just to make sure each other know we are there."
"Oh, she definitely did that last night!" says Jones.
With potential retirement looming in the not-too-distant future, their mother flew over to Wales from Australia to attend the match in person, attempting to remain neutral throughout.
"It's cool to think that we both grew up in Australia and we've ended up half way round the world playing netball against each other," says Neal. "Not many people have the ability to do that."
Jones adds: "It always adds something when you're playing against a family member. We grew up dreaming of those sort of things and it's always going to be a momentous occasion because that's your sibling.
"That's someone you've lived with, grown up with and you know them inside out. I always make sure she's the last one I go to at the end on the court."
Weekly round-up
March has not been kind to Wasps. Unbeaten and flying high at the top of the table just a few weeks ago, the double reigning champions had looked on track to make the semi-finals with ease. Not so any more. Following defeats against Manchester Thunder (by nine goals) and Loughborough Lightning (by one goal), they slipped to another loss at Thunder's hands on Saturday to see them slip to third in the table.
A nip and tuck first half saw little between the two sides many have tipped to make this year's Grand Final, before Wasps opened a five-goal lead heading into the final quarter. That advantage was slowly eroded and Thunder emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, winning 50-49 for Wasps' second one-goal defeat in a week.
The same margin separated Loughborough and Severn Stars, as Lightning - who had led by 11 near the end of the third quarter - survived a late capitulation to eventually triumph by just one goal courtesy of Mary Cholhok's second buzzer-beater in as many games.
Saracens Mavericks climbed into second in the table with a 58-50 victory over Surrey Storm, who had threatened an upset early in the match, while Team Bath completed a double by beating Strathclyde Sirens 51-47 and Severn Stars 53-43 to move into the semi-finals positions. Celtic Dragons beat bottom side London Pulse 62-51.
World Cup watch
Serena Guthrie, England's Quad Series captain earlier this year, played a key role in Team Bath's victory over Strathclyde Sirens, with some trademark interceptions earning her the player of the match award. Both Guthrie and Eboni Usoro-Brown also featured in the win against Severn Stars.
Goal attack Ella Clark played a crucial role alongside Nat Panagarry and young Ugandan star Mary Cholhok in helping Loughborough Lightning to their sixth successive win, while Jade Clarke and Rachel Dunn were unable to prevent Wasps' defeat.
George Fisher, and Corbin sisters Sasha and Kadeen were in action for Saracens Mavericks' victory. Jodie Gibson continued her recovery in missing out on playing for Severn Stars, while England captain Ama Agbeze was also absent for London Pulse, having picked up an injury in their previous match.
Fixtures
Saturday March 30
Celtic Dragons v Severn Stars, 4pm
Loughborough Lightning v Saracens Mavericks, 6pm
Sunday March 31
Wasps v London Pulse, 4pm
Monday April 1
Strathclyde Sirens v Manchester Thunder, 7.30pm
Surrey Storm v Team Bath, 7.30pm
