LONDON PULSE vs SEVERN STARS – MATCH PREVIEW
Who – Severn Stars
When – Saturday March 16, 19:00pm
Where – Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Round 5 brings another huge Superleague contest at the Copper Box as London Pulse aim to stretch their winning run to four games when they take on Severn Stars in the capital on Saturday night.
Third place, currently occupied by Stars, is on the line and Pulse will draw inspiration from not only their winning run but their last appearance at their iconic home.
Pulse produced a thrilling performance to edge out Loughborough Lightning in an epic encounter – and a meeting with high flying Stars promises to be another memorable evening.
Sam Bird’s team head into the game on the back of three straight victories, however Stars have also won three of their four games with both teams’ only defeat coming against table-topping Manchester Thunder.
““I think it’s going to be a really tough game, they have had a good start to the season,” Bird says of a Stars side that have beaten Leeds Rhinos, Strathclyde Sirens and Team Bath.
Player-coach Trip is one of only five players that remain after last season’s sixth placed finish. Proven NSL pedigree has come in to bolster the squad and their fast start sees Goal Keeper Jas Brown and Wing Attack Jess Shaw feature in some of the league leading stats this season.
Stars also have a host of familiar names to Pulse fans, with Lefebre Rademan and Ashleigh Dekker joining Jo Trip’s new look squad that also features Sigi Burger who trails only Mary Cholhok in the early top Goal Scorer list.
Burger, Rademan and Dekker have all worn the black and pink, while in the other direction Sam Bird is a former coach of the Stars, but while there is plenty of familiarity there is also a new look for Stars.
“They have three former Pulse players who will return to the club wanting to make a point, like all players do.
“They have been in good form, Sigi in particular is playing well in terms of being a strong target for them – but we are familiar with her and how she plays.
“We both have a good bench, so I think it will be about strategy as well and I am really looking forward to it.”
Victories over Surrey Storm, Loughborough Lightning and Team Bath have built an early sense of momentum for Bird and her squad.
That only increased with Nichole Taljaard, Jeresia McEachrane and Darcie Everitt among the latest members of the 12 to get increased court time.
It’s all part of the balance, according to the coach who knows the challenges that a long season brings.
“It’s important in terms of developing our tool kit for the season, knowing what combinations we can put on in any game.
“If Plan A isn’t going well we want to have two or three other tried and tested options to put out against teams.
“It is not about getting players on for the sake of it, it’s strategic and looking at how they connect.
“It’s about knowing what every player on the 12 can bring to the party, whether we have injuries down the line or if we need a serious change up on strategy in the defending or attacking unit.”
With another week of training, and the players well into the rhythms of the season, there are no injury concerns for Pulse – much to the delight of Bird who praised the work of the strength and conditioning team in having the players ready.
Having played last Friday, the squad has had more than a week to prepare, and while the bumps and bruises are standard, the games will continue to come thick and fast as Leeds Rhinos, Cardiff Dragons and Strathclyde Sirens follow in the weeks ahead.
“It’s netball, so like all teams we are carrying some kind of knock or niggle – but we have a fully fit squad of 12 to choose from.
“We have played three very different opponents and all of them have presented very different challenges – on the court and off it.
“Bath might have been a big win but it was our first game travelling away so looking at our preparation for longer away days, fuelling the players all the things we look at for continued improvement.
“Momentum is important, yes we want to win and yes we want to keep that momentum going but it is really about us looking at our performance and standards and making sure they continue to improve.”
THE OPPONENTS – SEVERN STARS
Head Coach: Jo Trip
Last Season: 6th (W7 D0 L11 F960 A1054 Pts 21)
Last Time Out – Lost 50-65 v Manchester Thunder (H), Round 4
History – Joined the Superleague in 2017, as one of three new franchises. Based originally at the University of Gloucester and the University of Worcester they finished eighth in their debut season.
Under Jo Trip – in her first Superleague head coaching role – they equalled their best ever season in 2023 when they came 6th, a feat also achieved in 2018. An achievement as it came just 12 months on from finishing bottom of the 2022 NSL.
New for 2024 – Despite an impressive 2023 season, only five players remain from their sixth-placed finish and they have put together a squad packed with Superleague experience.
Scotland international Niamh Cooper has arrived off the back of a top four finish with Surrey Storm, while Rebekah Airey is back from injury and Ella Powell-Davies comes in from Cardiff Dragons to give the team significant strength in the defensive end. Ashleigh Dekker brings years of NSL experience, most recently as Grand Final runner-up with Pulse to the mid-court, while the attack end has been bolstered by the arrivals of South Africa GA/GS Lefebre Rademan, talented Welsh international Betsy Creak and Susie Liverseidge’s from title-winning Loughborough Lightning.
Key Battle – Berri Neil vs Jo Trip. While the contest between Jas Brown and Olivia Tchine will be fascinating, it is in front of them that the key to the game might emerge. Player/Coach Trip is as experienced as they come and has been a key factor – on and off the court – in Stars establishing themselves over the last two seasons. England Roses star Neil is in terrific form, adding shooting volume to her playmaking skill set. Trip must balance keeping one of the Superleague’s most in-form GAs quiet with her duties as a head coach.
Last Time Out – Lost 50-65 v Manchester Thunder Away. Starting Seven: GK – Brown; GD – Trip; WD – Cooper; C – Marshall; WA – Shaw; GA – Liverseidge; GS – Burger.
Squad – Jas Brown, Jo Trip, Rebekah Airey, Ella Powell-Davies, Niamh Cooper, Ashleigh Dekker. Gabby Marshall, Jess Shaw, Susie Liverseidge. Lafabre Rademan, Betsy Creak, Sigi Burger.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played – 8; London Pulse – 7. Severn Stars – 1.
Pulse have enjoyed a strong record against Stars down the years, including a league double in each of the last three seasons.
Stars last victory in meetings between the teams came at the Copper Box back in 2019 with a 60-51 win that remains their only success over their London rivals.
The last meeting was a thrilling 56-50 win for Pulse at the University of Worcester, while the first meeting will always have a place in franchise history as it was Pulse’s first ever NSL fixture and victory, 51-49 success in Birmingham for the 2019 season opener.
Last 5 meetings
Round 13, 2023 – Severn Stars 50-56 London Pulse
Round 3, 2023 – London Pulse 63-50 Severn Stars
Round 16 2022 – Severn Stars 38-53 London Pulse
Round 6, 2022 – London Pulse 64-35 Severn Stars
Round 19, 2021 – London Pulse 42-40 Severn Stars
Round 4 Fixtures
Friday, 7.30pm – Sirens v Dragons
Friday, 7.30pm – Team Bath v Saracens Mavericks
Friday, 7.30pm – Manchester Thunder v Surrey Storm – live on Sky Sports YouTube
Saturday, 6pm – Loughborough Lightning v Leeds Rhinos – live on BBC iPlayer