THE Strathclyde Sirens are still looking for their first win of the 2024 NSL season after they were no match for the Loughborough Lightning, losing by 36 goals (72-36).

Despite how lopsided the final score was, things started a lot more evenly, with it taking until the 11th centre pass for a centre pass to be broken. That break of a centre pass finally came when the defensive pressure from the Lightning became too much for the Sirens, and a wayward pass saw the Lightning then race the ball down the other end for a goal.

This was the turning point for the Lightning, who raced ahead to have what was at times a double-digit lead. The Sirens really let the score get away from them as the quarter progressed as the reigning champions put their foot down and ultimately took an 11-goal lead into the first break.

That turn of momentum midway through the quarter as the gulf in class between the sides came to the fold. The Sirens would go on to score no more than nine goals in a quarter for the rest of the game as the Lightning went on to score 20 goals, 14 goals and 16 goals respectively.

Alice Harvey had an impressive game in goal keeper for the Lightning, picking up 10 deflections and 10 gains in the win, as did Hannah Joseph (22 feeds, three deflections, two intercepts, two gains) in midcourt.

Meanwhile for the Sirens, Cerys Finn (one rebound, four deflections, two intercepts, two gains) and Emily Nicholl (five gains, three deflections, three intercepts) kept racking up the numbers and tried their hardest to keep their side in the game.

In other results:

• The Severn Stars escaped with a narrow two-goal win over the Saracens Mavericks.

The margin was quite narrow all game, but thankfully for the Stars the quarters they won were by more than when the Mavericks were on top.

• Leeds Rhinos picked up their second win of the season with a four-goal win over the Surrey Storm.

The lead was tight at every change, but crucially the Rhinos had built up enough of a barrier in the first half that when the third and fourth quarters cancelled each other out, and the Rhinos were still able to walk away with the win.

• Manchester Thunder made a huge statement as they bounced back from a first loss of 2024 with a huge 27-goal win over Team Bath.

The Thunder scored big from the onset and maintained the pressure, winning the quarters by nine goals, three goals, 12 goals and 13 goals respectively.

• London Pulse also had a big win, downing the Cardiff Dragons by 15 goals.

It was a big first half from the Pulse that made all the difference, with the visitors scoring 29 goals to the Dragons’ 12 to set up the win.