NSL 2024 MATCH REPORT: LONDON PULSE 72 V SEVERN STARS 50
By Paul Prenderville
London Pulse continued to showcase their attacking verve with a sensational display to see off the threat of Severn Stars and move level on points with the Superleague leaders.
Manchester Thunder and Loughborough are in action over the weekend but Pulse applied the pressure with a display full of verve that now opens up a 12 point cushion over fifth place.
Off the back of tying their franchise record with 76 goals against Team Bath, Sam Bird’s squad delivered again to rack up more than 70 goals for the third time this season.
“We set out intent early, we were up for it, we were competitive and we played some beautiful netball,” said Bird after a 72-50 win at the University of Worcester that took Pulse’s winning run to six games since defeat to Severn Stars in Round 5.
“There was attacking creativity, defence winning ball, it was really good to watch.
“Our attack played beautifully against Bath and we were pleased with how we attacked there – Nichole was central to that. When Hali was ruled out it gave us another opportunity to move everyone back.
“We competed for the right ball, we were really clean, we didn’t overshoot, we were clear with what we thought we could win and what we couldn’t and we put the pressure on really well.”
As soon as last weekend’s win over Team Bath had finished, Pulse had turned their attention to a Stars team who had recorded a seven goal win at the Copper Box in March.
Despite the absence of Halimat Adio, ruled out on the day through illness, a blistering first half did the damage, and Pulse were 16 goals clear by half time before closing out a statement victory that also saw the return to the matchday squad for Jade Clarke.
Pulse are back at home in Round 12, and at a brand new venue when they take on Leeds Rhinos at Crystal Palace Arena hoping to extend their winning run.
STORY OF THE GAME
For the first time this season, Bird was forced into a change in the defensive end with Adio out. As part of the reshuffle, Funmi Fadoju dropped back to play Goal Keeper, with Zara Everitt moving to Goal Defence and Izzi Phillips at Wing Defence.
After an evenly contested opening eight minutes, Pulse took hold of the game with Fadoju’s positional shift only adding to her impact on the game.
A couple of quick fire tips proved the catalyst for a seven goal run that became 10-1 and opened up a significant advantage.
While Stars – without three of their regular squad – were reliant on getting the ball into Sigi Burger, Pulse split the responsibilities with Berri Neil scoring seven and Olivia Tchine scoring 13 on the way to a huge early quarter.
Q1: Severn Stars 11-20 London Pulse
A red hot first 15 minutes was followed by more of the same in the second quarter, as Pulse continued to force the errors from the home side.
Stars’ physical approach had nullified the Pulse threat in the first meeting, but having settled quickly Pulse’s free flowing style was able to bypass Niamh Cooper and Ella Powell-Davies as the attack end prospered.
With the hosts struggling to get the ball in to Burger, Everitt and Fadoju continued to turn defence into attack with Nichole Taljaard’s precision passing from Wing Attack causing all sorts of problems.
The South African, linking beautifully with Alicia Scholes, pushed her feed tally up to 26 by half time as Pulse turned their nine goal lead into a double digit advantage
HT: Severn Stars 21-37 London Pulse (10-17)
Scholes was starting her second successive game in the Centre bib and her pace of play was giving the home team no time to settle as Pulse continued to press home their advantage.
With Zara Everitt looking just as at home in the Goal Defence bib as her usual Wing Defence, it was Pulse’s trademark ability to seize ball that set the tone for the mid-court to thrive.
Scholes and Taljaard found Neil and Tchine almost at will and the latter did not miss during the third quarter as the lead extended out to 21 goals.
Q3: Severn Stars 35-56 London Pulse (14-19)
With the points secure, Bird took the opportunity to once again get valuable minutes into the squad. Jeresia McEachrane, Darcie Everitt, Jada Autumn and Isla May all made their way onto the court.
There was a tricky final few moments to negotiate as Scholes was sent off in the closing stages, forcing Pulse to play the final 90 seconds with six players.
However the hard work had been done, the points secured and thrilling performance ensured the team’s winning run continued.
FT: Severn Stars 50-72 London Pulse (15-16)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Alicia Scholes
Starting 7s
Pulse: GK – Fadoju; GD – Z Everitt; WD – Philips; C – Scholes; WA – Taljaard; GA – Neil; GS – Tchine. Bench – D Everitt, McEachrane, Clarke, Autumn, May.
Severn Stars: GK – Trip; GD – Powell-Davies; WD – Cooper C – Marshall; WA – Shaw; GA – Creak; GS – Burger. Bench – Haynes, Dekker, Smith, Hughes, Rademan
ROUND 11 RESULT & FIXTURES
Friday – Cardiff Dragons 54-54 Strathclyde Sirens
Saturday, 4pm – Saracens Mavericks v Team Bath
Saturday, 6pm – Surrey Storm v Manchester Thunder
Sunday, 4pm – Leeds Rhinos v Loughborough Lightning – live on Sky Sports YouTube