CHAMPIONS Loughborough Lightning suffered a "reality check" after losing their first home league match of the season.
London Pulse, winners of the pre-season inaugural Netball Super Cup, continued their fine form by winning 77-51 at the Sir David Wallace Arena in Loughborough.
Lightning started brightly and were within two goals after the first quarter.
Ella Clark led the scoring, while Beth Cobden marked her 100th Netball Super League appearance with a typically tenacious performance in defence.
However, Pulse capitalised on key moments, pulling ahead by 12 points at half-time.
A spirited third quarter response saw Lightning increase their defensive intensity and find better attacking rhythm in front of a near capacity home crowd.
But Pulse held firm and extended their lead in the final quarter to secure the win.
Olivia Tchine top-scored with 37 goals in a dominant performance for Pulse, who beat Leeds Rhinos to win the Netball Super Cup earlier this month.
Ella Clark was next on the scoring charts with 15 for Loughborough, who suffered their first defeat of the season. Lightning head coach Vic Burgess said: “We are not happy with that game.
“We came back well in the third quarter but it ran away from us in the fourth.
“It is a good reality check and makes us want to be better. So we are going to reflect on that, get back to the drawing board and step up a notch.”
London Pulse coach Sam Bird: “We are really pleased with the performances. They are t...
London Pulse, winners of the pre-season inaugural Netball Super Cup, continued their fine form by winning 77-51 at the Sir David Wallace Arena in Loughborough.
Lightning started brightly and were within two goals after the first quarter.
Ella Clark led the scoring, while Beth Cobden marked her 100th Netball Super League appearance with a typically tenacious performance in defence.
However, Pulse capitalised on key moments, pulling ahead by 12 points at half-time.
A spirited third quarter response saw Lightning increase their defensive intensity and find better attacking rhythm in front of a near capacity home crowd.
But Pulse held firm and extended their lead in the final quarter to secure the win.
Olivia Tchine top-scored with 37 goals in a dominant performance for Pulse, who beat Leeds Rhinos to win the Netball Super Cup earlier this month.
Ella Clark was next on the scoring charts with 15 for Loughborough, who suffered their first defeat of the season. Lightning head coach Vic Burgess said: “We are not happy with that game.
“We came back well in the third quarter but it ran away from us in the fourth.
“It is a good reality check and makes us want to be better. So we are going to reflect on that, get back to the drawing board and step up a notch.”
London Pulse coach Sam Bird: “We are really pleased with the performances. They are t...
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Leicester Mercury (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 25, 2025