Loughborough Lightning have sent a powerful message to the rest of the league after a gripping 58-53 win over London Pulse, drawing level on points at the summit of the Netball Super League table.
The clash at the Copper Box was billed as a top-of-the-table thriller — and it didn’t disappoint. Lightning came out firing, setting the tone early and maintaining enough control to hand Pulse just their second defeat of the season.
It was all Lightning in the opening quarter. Shadine van der Merwe anchored a rock-solid defence that left Pulse scrambling, as the visitors surged to a commanding 19-10 lead.
Pulse, led by head coach Sam Bird, managed to regain some composure in the second quarter. They won more ball but struggled to make it count. Despite their efforts, they went into half-time still trailing by nine.
The third quarter saw Lightning tighten their grip, but the final 15 minutes belonged to Pulse. The London side launched a spirited comeback, closing the gap, but not enough to prevent defeat.
“We knew we had to come out strong, and I’m proud of the way we handled the pressure,” said Lightning’s Kissimmee Player of the Match, Berri Neil, who shone against her former club.
The defensive trio of Van der Merwe, Alice Harvey and Beth Cobden were instrumental. Their cohesive effort restricted star shooter Olivia Tchine to limited opportunities, though she still converted 97% of her shots.
Manchester Thunder kept pace with the leaders following a hard-fought 67-61 win over Birmingham Panthers at the M&S Bank Arena — netball’s first appearance in Liverpool since the 2019 World Cup.
Thunder controlled the first half but were made to work. Panthers edged the third quarter 21-20, trimming the deficit to five heading into the final spell.
Early pressure from the Panthers in the last quarter cut the lead to just two. But Thunder responded well, regaining momentum and closing the game out with maturity and poise.
Now sitting third, Thunder are six points clear of Nottingham Forest in fifth, with only four matches remaining in the regular season.
London Mavericks delivered again under pressure, securing a 71-66 win over NIC Leeds Rhinos after extra time — their second such result this season.
The match was a rollercoaster. Mavericks jumped out to a nine-goal advantage in the third quarter. But Rhinos hit back, levelling the game at 59-59 to force the extra 15 minutes.
In the additional period, the Mavericks found their edge. Emma Thacker landed critical Soft & Gentle Super Shots, while Emily Andrew converted 92% of her attempts in the circle.
At the opposite end, Razia Quashie made her presence known with eight gains and three intercepts. Rhinos’ Cassie Howard also stood tall with four intercepts and six gains in a strong individual display.
The win keeps the Mavericks in the top four, three points clear of Forest, with a crucial clash against them looming in Round 11.
Nottingham Forest Netball returned to form with a convincing 77-53 away win over LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons.
After a disappointing loss to the Thunder last week, Chelsea Pitman’s side looked revitalised. Rolene Streutker was once again electric in the circle, tallying 29 goals and 13 Super Shots to earn the Kissimmee Player of the Match award.
Forest burst out of the gates with a 23-14 opening quarter and had extended that cushion to 43-29 by half-time.
Tash Pavelin and Jayda Pechova continued their strong defensive partnership, combining for 10 deflections and seven gains.
Georgia Rowe top-scored for the Dragons, but the home side had no answer to Forest’s relentless attack.
With the regular season entering its final stretch, the race for the top four is heating up. Loughborough Lightning and London Pulse are locked at the top. Thunder are breathing down their necks. Mavericks and Forest continue to jostle just behind.
