Round 13 of the Netball Super League saw changes at the bottom of the table, whilst the Soft & Gentle Major and Minor Semi-Final fixtures are still to be determined based on the top four’s final positions.
In the penultimate weekend of the regular season, London Pulse got a close win against LexisNexis Dragons in their second extra-time game this season as Birmingham Panthers claimed their second win of the season against London Mavericks in a close one-goal victory. League leaders AO Manchester Thunder continued their dominant run with a 27-goal victory away to Nottingham Forest, while Loughborough Lightning comfortably defeated NIC Leeds Rhinos.
Round 13 Results:
Nottingham Forest 51-78 AO Manchester Thunder
AO Manchester Thunder delivered one of the most dominant displays of the round, securing a convincing 78-51 victory over fellow finalists Nottingham Forest. Thunder’s attacking unit moved the ball with speed and precision throughout the contest, building momentum early and controlling the game from start to finish. England Rose Lois Pearson scored 17 goals and 7 Amex Super Shots, earning Experience Kissimmee Player of the Match, as she worked alongside fellow England Rose Elenor Cardwell, who shot 24 goals in regular time. Thunder’s defensive pressure forced repeated turnovers across the court, with 18 deflections, 23 gains and 6 intercepts, as they kept their opponents to their lowest-scoring performance of the season. A standout defensive performance came from Nicola Smith, who claimed 10 gains and 9 deflections. The result strengthens Thunder’s position at the top of the table as they continue their push towards the play-offs.
Loughborough Lightning 79-55 NIC Leeds Rhinos
Loughborough Lightning continued their impressive form with a commanding 79-55 win against NIC Leeds Rhinos. Lightning’s attacking combinations and high shooting accuracy proved too strong as they opened up a comfortable lead across the middle quarters. Lightning’s Hannah Joseph put in 31 feeds acting as a real play maker in centre court, whilst Trinidad & Tobago’s Samantha Wallace Joseph also had a strong game with 15 Amex Super Shots, taking her Super Shot tally up to 113 for the season. The defeat for Rhinos means they now sit bottom of the NSL table, however, for Lightning the win sees them enter the final round on the same points as league leaders Thunder, with the two teams set to go head-to-head in the last weekend of regular season.
London Pulse 67-66 LexisNexis Dragons
London Pulse took an extra-time victory in their second consecutive one-point win over Lexis Nexis Dragons, 67-66. Pulse led by five goals at the main break; however, Dragons came out roaring in the second half as Scottish Thistle, Niamh McCall scored an all-important Amex Super Shot buzzer beater for Dragons sending the game into extra-time. Pulse eventually held their nerve during extra time, with key moments from the attacking combination of Liv Tchine and Kamogelo Maseko helping secure the narrow victory. Despite the defeat, Dragons impressed throughout with their defensive intensity and composure under pressure, tallying up 25 deflections, 5 rebounds, 7 intercepts and 13 pickups as they pushed Pulse all the way in one of the closest matches of the season.
London Mavericks 51-52 Birmingham Panthers
Birmingham Panthers claimed a one-goal victory over London Mavericks in another tightly contested fixture which showed Panthers resilience and composure, particularly during the closing stages to secure the crucial 52-51 win. Betsy Creak took home the Experience Kissimmee Player of the Match, as she finished with 31 goals and 5 rebounds (out of Panthers’ 10). Mavericks remained competitive throughout and continued to apply pressure late into the final quarter, but Panthers managed to hold on in the final moments. This win means that Panthers have climbed off the bottom of the table and sit one point ahead of NIC Leeds Rhinos.
What’s Next:
Round 14 Fixtures:
Friday 29 May
- NIC Leeds Rhinos vs Birmingham Panthers (Canon Medical Arena 19:00)
Saturday 30 May
- London Mavericks vs LexisNexis Dragons (Hertfordshire Sports Village 16:00)
- AO Manchester Thunder vs Loughborough Lightning (National Cycling Centre 17:00)
Sunday 31 May
- Nottingham Forest vs London Pulse (Motorpoint Arena 18:00)
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