NSL Rd 2 – SURREY STORM vs LONDON PULSE
By Paul Prenderville
London Pulse picked up their first win of the 2024 Netball Superleague season beating Surrey Storm 62-46 in Guildford to cap a busy day for the franchise.
A busy day at Surrey Sports Park saw all 3 NPL squads take to court with the U19 and U21s recording strong wins. The pressure was on Sam Bird’s squad to follow suit.
Sam Bird had demanded her players stand up after defeat to Manchester Thunder, and she got the response she was looking for, with a dominant first half that featured all the defensive highlights on display at Season Opener – but this time with the attacking reward.
After gaining the upper hand in the first quarter, Pulse pressed home their advantage in the second to complete an impressive first half that opened up a 14-goal half-time lead.
A keenly contested second period saw Storm edge the third quarter, but showcasing the strength of options, Pulse rang the changes to combat Proscovia Peace and the response was an impressive win.
“We took what we had practised in training onto the court,” Bird said.
“A good focused start to the game where our timing was better, we had clear options to the ball – and the trust was there that was missing last week.
Sam Bird
“It’s really good to know we’ve got more than one strategy to cope with holding shooters, and rotational shooters.”
STORY OF THE GAME
With Jade Clarke being managed on her way to full fitness, Pulse made just one change as Izzi Phillips was handed her first start after an impressive debut from the bench in Nottingham.
Pulse stole the early advantage to lead by two at 6-4 and then pull six clear as the attack end rewarded Halimat Adio’s sharp defensive work. A relentless Pulse start continued, with connections crisp and pressure all over the home team to build an eight-goal lead by the end of the opening 15 minutes
Q1: Surrey Storm 10-18 London Pulse
There was no letting up to begin the second quarter, this time Fadoju setting the tone early with a flying interception from the Storm centre pass. Slick attacking play, involving Phillips, Scholes, Neil and Tchine ended with Tchine converting from long range – and by the time Pulse cashed in on another Fadoju tip, the lead had stretched out to 24-11.
Storm rallied to reduce the deficit to 11, but with the Scholes and Tchine combination firing, Pulse finished strongly to increase their advantage going into half-time.
Q2: Surrey Storm 20-34 London Pulse (Quarter Score: 10-16)
Clarke emerged as a half-time replacement, but with Proscovia Peace giving the home crowd a lift it was Storm who started the third quarter in style, reducing the gap to 10 goals.
Sensing a momentum shift, Brie Grierson was brought into the attack end. Still Storm found a way and, cheered on by a lively home crowd, they closed to within eight following a 13-7 run.
Defensive changes followed for Pulse, and a rejigged defensive end, with Fadoju at GK, Zara Everitt at GD and Phillips at WD wrestled back control to finish the quarter strongly.
Q3: Surrey Storm 36-49 London Pulse (Quarter Score: 16-15)
With a 13-goal lead heading into the final 15 minutes, Fadoju’s defensive prowess inspired another strong start. Jeresia McEachrane came into the action for another outing, while Darcie Everitt became the latest Pathway athlete to earn her colours.
With Berri Neil moving to GS, and Nichole Taljaard on at GA, Tchine took a break following a blistering start to the season, but the goals kept coming in a strong finish to secure the first points of the season.
It means Pulse slot in behind the early pacesetters Loughborough Lightning, Manchester Thunder and Severn Stars who have all started with two wins.
Q4: Surrey Storm 46-62 London Pulse (Quarter Score: 10-13)
STARTING 7s
Pulse – GK – Adio; GD – Fadoju; WD – Z Everitt; C – Phillips; WA – Scholes; GA – Neil; GS – Tchine. Bench – D Everitt, McEachrane, Clarke, Grierson, Taljaard
Storm – GK – Muhamed; GD – Fee; WD – Howell; C – Austin; WA – Dix; GA – Drakeford-Lewis; GS – Wells. Bench – Wood, Harding, Masters, Gibbons, Peace.
OTHER ROUND 2 RESULTS
Friday – Cardiff Dragons 52-63 Manchester Thunder
Saturday – Saracens Mavericks 53-44 Leeds Rhinos
Saturday – Severn Stars 67-38 Strathclyde Sirens
Saturday – Loughborough Lightning 83-46 Team Bath