Loughborough Lightning kept their title hopes alive with an impressive 77-57 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Netball Super League Minor Semi-Final, booking their place in the Preliminary Final.
The East Midlands rivals shared the spoils across the regular season. Lightning edged a thrilling 75-74 victory in round 7 of the campaign before Forest responded with a crucial win in round 12 that helped secure their first-ever playoff appearance.
With a place in the Preliminary Final on the line, the stage was set for another closely contested encounter, as Lightning had reached the Grand Final in consecutive years since 2019, and Forest looked to make history by reaching their first Final.
Teams:
Loughborough Lightning: Jo Noel (GK), Celena Appleby-Prince (GD), Nat Panagarry (WD), Jess Shaw (C), Hannah Joseph (WA), Berri Neil (GA), Samantha Wallace-Joseph (GS)
Substitutes: Ella Clark, Anna Fairclough, Alice Harvey
Nottingham Forest: Jayda Pechova (GK), Tash Pavelin (GD), Niamh Cooper (WD), Iona Christian (C), Brie Grieson (WA), Rhea Dixon (GA), Rolene Streukter (GS)
Substitutes: Hannah Leighton, Ane Retief, Anya Williams
Match Recap:
Loughborough Lightning started the stronger of the two sides and quickly established control through relentless defensive pressure and efficient attacking play. While Nottingham Forest remained within touching distance during the opening exchanges, Lightning’s defensive unit repeatedly disrupted their opponents’ rhythm, finishing the match with 13 gains and 14 pick-ups, compared with Forest’s 9 gains and 9 pick-ups.
The three-time champions limited Forest’s opportunities through the middle and capitalised on turnovers at crucial moments, preventing Forest from feeding directly to Rolene Streukter. Although both teams recorded 15 deflections, Lightning were far more effective at converting defensive pressure into scoreboard rewards. The hosts also dominated in the shooting circle, converting an impressive 97% of their attempts while restricting Forest to 80%.
Despite several periods of resistance from the visitors, the 2025 Finalists maintained their composure and controlled the tempo throughout the contest. Lightning’s attacking efficiency was evident across the four quarters: they missed just 2 standard shots and 4 Super Shots, compared with Forest’s 11 missed shots and 10 missed Super Shots.
As the final quarter unfolded, the home side continued to execute their game plan with precision, securing a convincing 77-57 victory. The result sends Lightning into next week’s Preliminary Final and keeps their hopes of a fourth Netball Super League title firmly alive.
What’s Next:
Saturday 13th June
- PRELIMINARY FINAL: Loughborough Lightning vs London Pulse
Saturday 20th June
- GRAND FINAL: AO Manchester Thunder vs [winner of the Preliminary Final]
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