NSL Rd 5 LONDON PULSE v SEVERN STARS – MATCH REPORT
By Paul Prenderville at the Copper Box
London Pulse slipped to their first defeat since the Season Opener, as Severn Stars recorded a 54-47 victory at the Copper Box in Round 5.
Sam Bird and her squad had put together a three-match winning run after defeat to Manchester Thunder in Nottingham, but against fellow high fliers Stars a damaging run to end the first and start the second quarters proved too big a deficit to overcome.
After a record breaking goal tally of 76 against Team Bath last time out it was a much more defensive contest against Severn Stars who led by six at half time and as many as 11 midway through the second quarter.
A third quarter switch to bring Nichole Taljaard in at Goal Shooter almost proved the catalyst for a turnaround but Pulse could never get closer than five goals as an impressive Stars bounced back from defeat to Thunder to take the three points that keeps them third in the Superleague table.
“I don’t think we started the way right, the captain had to bring in the warm up and we said we were going to have to tighten up, and we didn’t,” Bird said after the game.
“It was clunky right from the beginning and we lost the first quarter 17-11, that type of start against a team with a big target shooter is always going to be difficult to make up.
“We were a little bit focused on the score rather than the performance and that’s an unusual position for us to be in, down like that, but it’s an experience for us to learn from and improve on.
“To play so well against Loughborough, and then have a convincing win against Bath only to come here and fall short is disappointing.
“We were a little bit off in a number of areas and that had a cumulative effect on the performance.”
STORY OF THE GAME
As you would expect in a contest between two high-flying teams full of confidence, there was little to choose in the early exchanges. Although surprisingly it was errors, scrappy play and the umpire’s whistle that dominated the first quarter.
Former Pulse shooters Sigi Burger and Lafabre Rademan – in for her first start of the season – settled well, with Rademan shooting clinically and linking play. At the other end Olivia Tchine was maintaining her early season form but uncharacteristic mistakes handed the initiative to the visitors. In the final minutes a five-goal run allowed Stars to establish the biggest advantage of the contest, Tchine’s penalty ensuring Pulse were within touching distance.
Q1: London Pulse 11-17 Severn Stars
A blistering start to the second quarter from Stars caught Pulse cold and another run of five unanswered goals took the lead into double figures. Sensing a need for change, Sam Bird called for teenage mid-court star Izzi Phillips, who replaced Jade Clarke in the Centre bib.
With Funmi Fadoju and Halimat Adio pulling out a couple of trademark turnovers, Pulse managed to stem the tide and some fluidity in attack saw them close to within five goals.
Despite a brilliantly athletic play from Tchine to feed Berri Neil, it was again Stars that finished strongly to extend their first quarter lead into half-time.
Q2: London Pulse 24-32 Severn Stars (13-15)
Once again Bird turned to the bench to make an impact with Nichole Taljaard replacing Tchine as Shooter, and the rotation in the attack end began to cause Jo Trip and Ella Powell-Davies problems. Fadoju’s turnover paved the way for the gap to be reduced to five and Stars responded with a change of their own, Susie Liverseidge’s arrival at Goal Attack allowing them to keep Pulse at arm’s length as Burger’s accuracy under the posts kept the visitors scoreboard ticking over. Pulse edged the quarter by one goal, to keep hopes alive of a dramatic win.
Q3: London Pulse 36-43 Severn Stars (12-11)
Taljaard’s impact remained strong, missing just one of her 14 shots as Pulse attempted to haul themselves back into the game. But try as they might, and roared on by the home crowd, Pulse could not get closer than five goals as Burger maintained her perfect shooting night.
A couple of crucial misses from the hosts summed up the game, just when they looked to be close enough to set up a thrilling finale, mistakes allowed Stars to regroup and see out the victory.
Pulse stay fourth and return to action on the road in Round 6 against Leeds Rhinos looking to return to winning ways.
Q4: London Pulse 47-54 Severn Stars (11-11)
POM: Nichole Taljaard
Starting 7s
Pulse: GK – Adio; GD – Fadoju; WD – Z Everitt; C – Clarke; WA – Scholes; GA – Neil; GS – Tchine. Bench – D Everitt, McEachrane, Phillips, Grierson, Taljaard.
Stars: GK – Trip; GD – Powell-Davies; WD – Cooper; C – Marshall; WA – Shaw; GA – Rademan; GS – Burger. Bench – Brown, Haynes, Dekker, Liverseidge, Creak.
Pulse are back in action at home in Round 8 when Strathclyde Sirens are the visitors to the Copper Box, tickets are available for all London Pulse home games in 2024.
OTHER SCORES & FIXTURES IN ROUND 5
Friday – Strathclyde Sirens 49-58 Cardiff Dragons
Friday – Team Bath 48-60 Saracens Mavericks
Friday – Manchester Thunder 75-44 Surrey Storm
Saturday – Loughborough Lightning 71-55 Leeds Rhinos