NSL 2024: MATCH PREVIEW – LONDON PULSE v LEEDS RHINOS
By Paul Prenderville
Who – Leeds Rhinos
When – Saturday May 4, 7pm
Where – Crystal Palace Arena, London
First Meeting – Leeds Rhinos 49-51 London Pulse, Allam Sports Centre (Hull) Round 6
London Pulse head for new surroundings but hoping for more of the same when they face Leeds Rhinos at the Crystal Palace Arena on Saturday in Round 12.
For many fans it will be a first chance to see the team, while for several of the players it’s a chance to return to very familiar surroundings.
“I’m so excited, Crystal Palace is South London, I’m from South London – it will be amazing to actually be at home, home,” Olivia Tchine smiled as she prepares for a return to the area where she learned the game.
A win against Severn Stars last time out made it six wins in a row for Sam Bird’s and in each of the last two games they have racked up more than 70 goals as the attack end shows signs of finding its rhythm.
With just seven games of the Superleague remaining, Pulse have a 12-point gap over Surrey Storm and a win in South London will go a long way to almost clinching a top four place.
However an improving Rhinos squad have been namechecked by Bird as a team capable of going on a winning run in the second half of the season and despite sitting eighth in the table, are just six points off fourth-placed Severn Stars.
The Rhinos challenge will not be underestimated, not least because they won the second half of the first meeting back in March.
In fact Pulse only managed to win one of the four quarters, a devastating second 15 minutes that proved the deciding factor. Not that Bird’s reading too much into the last game.
“I think they have improved since that game, but so have we. It’s about being respectful of what they are putting out and trying to play the same way as we did against Stars.
There is a new excitement for Saturday’s home game, as Pulse travel to a new venue with the hope that the Crystal Palace crowd can match the Copper Box who have roared Bird and her squad over the line in hard-fought narrow victories against Saracens Mavericks and Loughborough Lightning this season.
“It’s a great chance for us to test the waters and see where our fan base is – to see if fans will travel to Crystal Palace but also picking up new fans in that part of London,” said the head coach.
“It’s good for us to present a different home venue to an away team – with an amazing arena in the Copper Box, opposition teams love playing there too.
“Leeds are in good form, so I think it will be a really competitive match and we are really looking forward to the opportunity to engage some new fans,
“It’s a first for us, we are looking forward to seeing how it goes.”
Bird will welcome back Goal Keeper Halimat Adio after the England international was ruled out of the win over Stars through illness.
Jade Clarke returned to the squad as an unused replacement in the last round and will hope to continue her return with minutes on court as the final weeks of the season come into view.
Brie Grierson remains the only absentee as she continues her rehabilitation on an ankle injury suffered earlier this season.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Round 13 – Surrey Storm, Home (live on Sky Sports YouTube)
Round 14 – Strathclyde Sirens, Away
Round 15 – Cardiff Dragons, Home
Round 16 – Manchester Thunder, Away
Round 17 – Loughborough Lightning, Away
Round 18 – Saracens Mavericks, Home
THE OPPONENTS – LEEDS RHINOS (8th)
Head Coach: Liana Leota
Last Season: 7th (W4 D2 L12 F946 A1066 Pts 14)
Form – L W W L W L
Last Time Out – Lost 56-64 v Loughborough Lightning (Home).
Starting Seven: GK – Mentor; GD – Davies; WD – M Magee; C – Howard; WA – O’Hanlon; GA – Jones; GS – Mvula.
HISTORY
Bringing the NSL back to Yorkshire, Leeds Rhinos Rugby League club added netball to their portfolio in 2017. After starting out with a team in the NPL, they made their Superleague debut in 2021 storming all the way to the semi-finals under Dan Ryan on the back of a fourth-placed finish. They lost to Loughborough Lighting in the last four and then had to settle for fourth after defeat to Manchester Thunder in the battle for bronze. Since then, they have missed the play-offs after finishing 6th in 2022 and then 7th in 2023.
SEASON SO FAR
Rhino’s season can be split into two parts. Having started the season with three straight defeats, they lost five of their first six games. But there’s been a turnaround of late, winning three of their last five to move into contention for a top four place. Both of those more recent defeats have been to Thunder & Lightning. Predictably Joyce Mvula will carry the main threat. After missing the first couple of rounds the Malawi international has shot up to third in the goalshooter standings with 409 to her name this season. Defensively, Geva Mentor has enjoyed a stellar return to the UK. Her total of 54 deflections though trails on Pulse’s Funmi Fadoju and her remarkable total of 99.
Squad – Geva Mentor, Zoe Davies, Michelle Magee, Sarah MacPhail, Cassie Howard, Caroline O’Hanlon, Celyn Emanuel, Amelia Hall, Emma Magee, Harriet Jones, Amy Braithwaite, Joyce Mvula.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played – 6; Leeds Rhinos – 1; London Pulse – 5.
Pulse have enjoyed a terrific record down the years against an always competitive Rhinos squad. Sam Bird’s team have won each of the last five matches including a thrilling two-goal victory in Hull earlier this season.
Rhino’s only victory came in the first ever meeting between the teams held behind closed doors at Studio 001 in Wakefield.
After two closely fought wins in 2022, Pulse completed an NSL double in 2023, racking up a 64-48 win in Nottingham at Season Opener, and following up with a 66-34 win at the Copper Box.
The teams first met in the 2021 season, when one of the games was postponed due to COVID protocols.
Last 5 meetings
Round 6, 2024 – Leeds Rhinos 49-51 London Pulse
Round 11, 2023 – London Pulse 66-34 Leeds Rhinos
Round 1, 2023 – Leeds Rhinos 48-64 London Pulse
Round 20 2022 – London Pulse 52-45 Leeds Rhinos
Round 10, 2022 – Leeds Rhinos 44-58 London Pulse
ROUND 12 – OTHER RESULTS & FIXTURES
Saturday, 3pm – Saracens Mavericks v Strathclyde Sirens
Saturday, 4pm – Team Bath v Surrey Storm
Saturday, 6pm – Loughborough Lightning v Manchester Thunder – live on Sky Sports YouTube
Sunday, 4pm – Severn Stars v Cardiff Dragons – live on BBC iPlayer