Pulse stay perfect as Lightning and ‘feral’ Thunder also win in NSL

With a 67-52 victory over Cardiff Dragons on Sunday, London Pulse continued their unbeaten start to the Netball Super League season.

Pulse won their seventh of seven matches, but the winless Dragons only led 32-25 at halftime before pulling away after the break due to their hard work.

With 25 goals, Liv Tchine once more provided the Pulse offense, but Sophie Kelly made a strong showing, scoring eight goals, and winning the award for player of the match.

The Dragons had 33 goals scored.

In the final game of the round, Manchester Thunder defeated London Mavericks on Monday to put them in second place.

At half-time, Thunder held on to a seven-point lead, but Mavericks countered by reversing the deficit before the quarterfinals.

However, Thunder’s final victory, their fifth in seven games, came down to a better performance in the closing stages.

Loughborough Lightning, defending NSL champion, also won the seventh round to defeat the Birmingham Panthers, who are currently third.

At half-time, the two were tied by one point, but Lightning held on for a 72-68 victory after taking the lead with a four-goal lead in the third quarter.

The Panthers made it difficult for the hosts at Sir David Wallace Arena after recording their first win of the season last week.

However, Loughborough maintained their composure as England goal attack Berri Neil added 16 goals and experienced Lightning shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph scored 34 goals.

However, the Panthers had their opportunities, and they will regret failing to receive more than the point for limiting their deficit to five goals.

Sigi Burger, a shooter, was effective under the post, scoring 37 goals, Betsy Creak added 10; the defense worked tirelessly to stop their opponents from taking the ball 16 times to 10 to score.

This season, Lightning has sputtered occasionally, but they’ll be relieved to get past that before their next game against fellow top-four favorites Thunder next week.

Nottingham Forest defeated Leeds Rhinos 76-65 to claim their third win of the season.

You’d rather be 20 goals up in quarter one because it’s so good we’re playing close, competitive games. However, Mavericks gave it to us, so they were given props.

“We’ve been working on that feral energy,” he said, “so we make sure every loose ball has Thunder’s hands on it.” We’re attempting to spread that throughout the court.

Do you want to win this game, McKevitt asked Thunder head coach Karen Greig at half-time? “It undoubtedly sparked a fire under us.”

“We know it always is against Mavericks,” said Manchester Thunder head coach Karen Greig.

They always emerge extremely defensively strong.

“Sometimes we let being run hard affect us, and that’s something we’re going to have to adjust to pretty quickly.”

Camilla Buchanan, the head coach of the Mavericks, said, “These are the kinds of games we enjoy playing.”

They liked it, they said. Without the performance we put on four weeks ago, that game would not have been possible.

“So despite the disappointing end of the product, I’m incredibly proud of them in some of the performances that were given.”

Seventh round

April 25th, 2019

Nottingham Forest 6-0 Nottingham Forest

Birmingham Panthers 72-68 Loughborough Lightning

Sunday, April 27.

Cardiff Dragons 67-52 London Pulse

28 April, Monday