Defending champs back in NSL decider
REIGNING Netball Super League (NSL) champions, Loughborough Lightning are still in the running to go back-to-back after defeating the London Pulse 59-47 to progress through to this year’s decider. The match was a lot closer in its opening stages than the final score would suggest, but the Lightning blew the game open in the third term, which made all the difference.
It was near impossible to split the sides early in the match. As much as the defensive exploits of Funmi Fadoju and Halimat Adio were making life hard for the Lightning’s shooters, Beth Cobden and Alice Harvey were doing the exact same thing up the other end.
This level of evenness was maintained throughout the first term, and as such the score was 11 all at the first break.
The start to the second term was littered with mistakes, with both sides falling fowl of the umpire’s whistle. Eventually the Lightning did settle and built the game’s first true lead, and it got out to as much as four goals. Some wayward passing in attack did not help the Pulse’s case, and although they briefly fought back and cut the margin in half, the Lightning then steadied to take a four goal lead into the main break.
The third quarter was where things went downhill for the Pulse.
The Lightning just continued to ride the wave of momentum early in the third term, and quickly blew out their lead. Loughborough started to really rack up the crucial defensive intercepts and were able to transition the ball back up court and into its circle with a speed that the Pulse just could not keep up with.
The Lightning lead continued to grow as the quarter progressed – even reaching into double figures – as the home side’s class continue to shine and they continued to prove why they are the reigning champions.
The Pulse continued to chop and change with their on court line up, in all three areas of the court, but nothing they tried did not seem to work.
It got out to as much as 13 goals the difference, but ultimately sat at 11 the difference at the final change. That ultimately proved to be the defining quarter for the match, as the Lightning went on to also win the last quarter by a single goal to take the win.
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 11 | 14 | 17 | 17 (59)
LONDON PULSE 11 | 11 | 10 | 16 (47)
Horizon Series begins in a 49-all draw
A DRAW kicked off the Horizon Series between England and Jamaica thanks to clinical end-to-end transition from the Jamaicans. A 49-49 result summed up the calibre of both of these sides with several big time players shining throughout. A formidable defensive end for the Sunshine Girls was up against an ever so growing shooting combination […]
Diamonds win match, but Kiwis still come away with big prize
THE AUSTRALIAN Diamonds have avoided an undesired series whitewash against New Zealand, winning the final match of the 2024 Constellation Cup 63 goals to 50. Proceedings were tight early, but then the Diamonds were able to really put their foot down in the second and third quarters to really open up the game on […]
Kiwis claim series over disappointed Aussies
NEW ZEALAND has won the 2024 Constellation Cup after beating Australia 61-43 in the third test to claim the series. Diamonds’ coach Stacey Marinkovich swung the changes pre match, making three changes to the match day squad and a couple to the starting seven, but ultimately the outcome was the same result. By contrast New […]
Kiwis go two up, but not all hope lost for Aussies
NEW ZEALAND’S stranglehold of Constellation Cup matches in New Zealand has continued, after downing Australia again to take a 2-0 lead in the 2024 series. In what might have felt like a sense of déjà vu for Australia and its fans, New Zealand had a strong first half which really catapulted them to the successful […]
Kiwis crush Aussies to cause upset and go one up
NEW ZEALAND has put behind it some poor recent results and kept their strangehold on matches against Australia played in New Zealand, after winning Test 1 of the Constellation Cup 64-50. The game started out tight, but New Zealand surged ahead in the second term, turning a one goal quarter time lead into a nine […]
Kiwis claim consolation win in Taini Jamison series
NEW ZEALAND has won the third match of the 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy, winning 61-56 over England to pick up a consolation win despite having lost the series already. The match was tight early, but New Zealand pulled away in the end and contended with multiple England fightbacks to take the win. Early it was […]
Roses rule over Ferns again to win Taini Jamison
ENGLAND has defeated New Zealand again, winning the second test 59 goals to 55 to take the 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy. New Zealand was the better side in the first half, but after a massive third term the Roses took back control and ultimately held on for the win. New Zealand was the side to […]
England outlasts New Zealand to go one up in series
ENGLAND has got its visit to New Zealand off to the perfect start, defeating the Silver Ferns 59 goals to 58 in a hard fought first test of the Taini Jamison Trophy. After a bit of a chaotic start to the game, the Silver Ferns got off to a strong start and put the first two […]
Diamonds dominate Roses to win series
AUSTRALIA has won its series with England after winning the third and final test 69 goals to 56 in a dominating performance. Although the Roses pushed the Diamonds for much of the match, a lack of defensive turnover generation really hurt the visitors and the Diamonds ultimately ran away with the match in the final […]
