NSL Rd 3: LONDON PULSE vs LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING – MATCH REPORT

In front of a record breaking Copper Box Arena crowd, London Pulse produced a brilliant all round display to beat Loughborough Lightning and claim victory in their opening home game of the season

More than 3,500 fans packed out the arena and were treated to a feast of netball in what was a repeat of last season’s Grand Final.

Lightning’s three goal lead in the early exchanges was the biggest advantage anyone had until Pulse opened up a five goal lead at the end of the third quarter.

Either side of those leads, the teams traded brilliant defence and ice-cool shooting to entertain the Saturday night crowd in the capital.

With the drama continuing right until the final whistle, Player of the Match Olivia Tchine kept her nerve in a raucous atmosphere to sink the winning shot in the final second after the visitors had fought back in the final quarter.

“As we said we were really looking at how we performed,” Sam Bird said.

“This was about us improving and we were disappointed with the Thunder performance but we improved against Storm and we wanted to see where we are against a Lightning side that are champions and I was really pleased with what the girls were able to execute in the game.”

Lightning had been victorious in June’s Grand Final, while Pulse had claimed a memorable double during the regular season so the scene was set for a cracker and players on both teams delivered.

Victory means Pulse have six points from their opening three games – a tough stretch that has featured games against all of last season’s top four finishers and has now produced the perfect bounce back to defeat in the Season Opener.

“The fact that we have focused on our own improvements, and our own path. We’ve not got too distracted by results but looked at what this squad can do,” Bird added.

“We’ve only played seven today and we have lots of quality on the bench.

“That’s now a little block done, and we look ahead to see what we can create against different opposition.

“For us it’s about improving again, we made some silly errors so we will tighten those up but we have to be pleased tonight.”

STORY OF THE GAME

Sam Bird kept faith with the same starting seven that performed so well against Storm, but it was Lightning who got the better of the early moments with a 4-1 lead – Rhea Dixon carrying the shooting load for the visitors.

With Olivia Tchine beginning to find her range, Pulse started to chip away and level the game.

Halimat Adio and Funmi Fadoju were giving Mary Cholhok plenty to think about, winning crucial ball and setting up through court connections that delighted the crowd.

Off the back of Adio’s double turnover in quick succession Pulse moved 11-10 in front and finished strongly when Fadoju deflected away from the path of Cholhok on the way to a two-goal lead being established.

Q1: London Pulse 14-12 Loughborough Lightning

A different challenge emerged for the second quarter as Ella Clark arrived at Goal Attack to give Lightning a double target in the circle.

But Adio and Fadoju remained focused and stuck to the task. A 5-2 run for the visitors saw them back in front but it didn’t tell the full story as the Pulse defence continued to put Cholhok and Clark under pressure. 

It wasn’t long before the attack end took over for the hosts, with Berri Neil instrumental both feeding Tchine and making no mistake herself under the post.

Another key Fadoju turnover allowed Pulse to re-establish a lead, and by half-time there was just a single goal to split the teams.

Q2: London Pulse 25-24 Loughborough Lightning (11-12)

With the teams trading goals and turnovers there was little to separate them across the third quarter until the Pulse defence made their mark.

Zara Everitt’s key interception went unrewarded, as did Adio’s deflection but the relentless defensive pressure was paying off as Pulse wrestled back control with Scholes, Neil and Tchine combining to thrilling effect in attack.

In the dying seconds, Fadoju’s brilliant deflection was taken through court allowing Tchine to open up Pulse’s biggest lead of the game.

Q3: London Pulse 41-37 Loughborough Lightning (16-13)

After Pulse’s strong finish to the third quarter, Lightning had no alternative but to come out firing and a physical final quarter was full of drama.

Again, Adio and Fadoju were inches away from key interceptions and deflections but Clark and Cholhok made no mistake when given a second attempt.

At the other end, Tchine was adding long range shooting to her arsenal to combat pressure from Alice Harvey.

Lighting’s experience looked to be telling as they eeked out a two goal lead as the game headed into its closing stages.

But Bird has preached trust in her young players, and sticking to task, retaining the connections that had taken them in front, they got back on level terms to set up the closing drama.

Fittingly it was a pressing full court defence forcing a held ball that allowed Pulse to draw level, and as the teams traded goals it was no surprise that the coolest head in the building belong to Tchine, who sunk the winning goal.

Q4: London Pulse 53-52 Loughborough Lightning (12-15)

Starting 7s

Pulse – GK – Adio; GD – Fadoju; WD – Z Everitt; C – Phillips; WA – Scholes; GA – Neil; GS – Tchine. Bench – McEachrane; D Everitt, Clarke, Grierson, Taljaard.

Lightning – GK – Harvey; GD – Smith; WD – Cobden; C – Panagarry; WA – Joseph; GA – Dixon; GS – Cholhok. Bench – Popoola; Roddy, Baylis, McCall, Clark.

Round 3 Results Elsewhere in the League

Friday – Team Bath 44-72 Severn Stars

Saturday – Leeds Rhinos 54-55 Cardiff Dragons

Saturday – Manchester Thunder 81-41 Strathclyde Sirens

Saturday – Surrey Storm 59-48 Saracens Mavericks