Pulse win inaugural Netball Super Cup as Forest impress

London Pulse beat Leeds Rhinos to win the inaugural Netball Super Cup at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

Pulse’s Olivia Tchine scored 16 points in the final, which the London club won 20-15.

The standalone competition took place before the Netball Super League (NSL) starts on 14 March.

“I am so proud of the girls, so excited”, player of the final and Pulse captain Zara Everitt told Sky Sports.

“In previous years we have just missed out, we know this isn’t the league trophy but it gives us a taste of, hopefully, what is to come”.

The format throughout the one-day competition saw each game last 14 minutes, rather than the usual 60.

Manchester Thunder and Leeds Rhinos topped the two groups after each team had played three matches.

Despite their great form all day, Thunder narrowly lost 17-16 to Pulse in the semi-final thanks to great late defending by Pulse’s Funmi Fadoju.

As play got under way in the final, Pulse goal shooter Tchine was a standout performer, scoring three in a row to cancel out Leeds shooter Joyce Mvula’s early score.

Rhinos captain Bethany Brittain hit back next but Nichole Breedt then slotted in a super shot – a new rule which in the new season will allow shooters to score two points from a dedicated area on the edge of the shooting circle during the last five minutes of each of the four quarters of every match.

Scores flew back and forth but Pulse gained a 12-6 lead at half-time.

Leeds looked as though they were staging a comeback, particularly through the skill of Sophie Egbaran in the second half.

However, Tchine kept the scoreboard ticking to give Pulse the title.

Nottingham Forest, along with Birmingham Panthers, are one of two new franchises admitted to the NSL this season.

The Super Cup was both teams ‘ first time on court in official competition against their rival top-flight clubs and Forest thoroughly impressed, beating the likes of London Mavericks to reach the semi-finals.

The entry into the league of Forest, who are backed by the Premier League football club, was part of a move that saw Team Bath, Strathclyde Sirens, Surrey Storm and Severn Stars cut from the top tier.

It marks the start of a new chapter for domestic netball in the UK in the first campaign as the division moves towards professionalisation.

The top-flight has also introduced new rules for the upcoming campaign including the super shot and no draws.

Forest’s first game in the NSL is against Pulse on 16 March and will be shown live on the BBC.

Group stage:

Birmingham Panthers 13-15 London Mavericks

Nottingham Forest 13-22 Manchester Thunder

Leeds Rhinos 12-17 Cardiff Dragons

Loughborough Lightning 16-16 London Pulse

Manchester Thunder 20-14 Birmingham Panthers

London Mavericks 15-29 Nottingham

London Pulse 13-16 Leeds Rhinos

Cardiff Dragons 15-18 Loughborough Lightning

Birmingham Panthers 16-18 Nottingham Forest

Manchester Thunder 17-12 London Mavericks

Leeds Rhinos 12-11 Loughborough Lightning

Cardiff Dragons 7-15 London Pulse

Semi-finals:

Manchester Thunder 16-17 London Pulse

Nottingham 13-15 Leeds Rhinos

Final: