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Powys County Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
London Pulse book place in Netball Super League Grand Final
London Pulse punched their ticket to the 2025 Netball Super League Grand Final with a thrilling 50-49 major semi-final victory over Loughborough Lightning. Pulse fought back from an six-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to take victory in one of the most absorbing play-off contests the league has seen. Olivia Tchine held her nerve in the circle for Pulse with a trio of decisive Soft & Gentle Super Shots in the final five minutes to turn the game on its head and send her side to the O2 on 6 July. "It's amazing," said captain Zara Everitt. "That was such an up and down game but we ground it out and that shows the maturity and the determination of the team. "We know [the Grand Final] is the big one. It is great to have the two other accolades, it really celebrates the success we have had throughout the season, but we really want that final trophy. We will put the hard work in over the next two weeks to try and get it." Pulse edge Lightning in enthralling contest Lightning were quickest out of the blocks, and quickly asserted a comfortable lead as Pulse struggled in front of the post in the early exchanges. There were clearly nerves on both sides, with each producing some uncharacteristic errors early on but it was Lightning who pushed out to a five-goal lead. Pulse scored just three goals in the opening 12 minutes, while Lightning took their chances to lead 11-3 and force a timeout from the hosts. Sam Bird's side were much improved after the break, with replacement Gracie Smith making an immediate impact at centre. Lightning continued to keep their scoreboard ticking however with the combination of Ella Clark and Samantha Wallace-Joseph making good use of the Soft & Gentle Super Shot. It allowed the defending champions to push their lead back out to 12 at one stage, but Pulse once again rallied to reduce the gap to eight as the teams headed into half time. The third quarter, as it so often does, proved pivotal in turning the game on its head as Pulse came roaring back into the contest. Two quick turnovers from Zara Everitt helped Pulse quickly eat into Lightning's lead, with the visitors calling their own timeout while five ahead. Tchine continued to impress in the circle for Pulse and it was her Super Shots that pulled Pulse level, and then into the lead, towards the end of the third quarter. Funmi Fadoju and Halimat Adio also stepped up to produce turnovers at key points for Pulse, but Vic Burgess' side refused to let the momentum completely turn and finished strongly to send the sides into the final quarter level at 35-35. The decisive fourth quarter opened with the teams going goal for goal, before Lightning got their noses in front midway through the quarter to establish a two-goal lead. The lead moved out to six after Berri Neil got a vital tip and then converted a Super Shot with four minutes left on the clock, before Wallace-Joseph added another as Lightning put the Grand Final within reach. But Tchine responded with three back-to-back of her own to level the scores once more to set up a grandstand final two minutes. A deflection from Everitt proved decisive, as Pulse turned the ball over and once more set Tchine up to convert a Super Shot, before adding another goal to make it a three-goal game. Wallace-Joseph scored a Super Shot at the death but it was not enough to prevent Pulse taking victory and booking their place in the Grand Final on 6 July. Thunder advance to Preliminary Final Loughborough Lightning will face Manchester Thunder in the Preliminary Final after they defeated London Mavericks 79-49 in the minor semi-final at Belle Vue. Thunder took control of the contest from the outset, running out to a 20-goal lead at half time before seeing out victory amidst seaering heat in Manchester. Thunder continued to welcome back Paige Reed and Lois Pearson from injury, with the pair combining to good affect in the circle. "It felt really good," said Pearson. "We knew it was going to be a tough game, after last week we knew they would come back fighting but pleased we got the win. "I am very happy personally, I have only been back two games so it means I get another game. "I am feeling good. I have had a lot of support from both Thunder and England and we are slowly building my minutes back up but it feels good to be back out there."
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pulse edge out Lightning to reach Grand Final
London Pulse booked their place in the Netball Super League Grand Final with a thrilling 50-49 win over Loughborough who secured top spot at the end of the Netball Super League regular season, ahead of Lightning, had trailed 29-21 at the third quarter saw Pulse seize the upper hand as they battled back into the contest at the Copper quick turnovers from captain Zara Everitt allowed Pulse to chip away at Lightning's Tchine's clinical scoring helped Pulse draw level before she put them in the lead towards the end of the third then held her nerve in the circle with a trio of decisive super shots in the final five Wallace-Joseph scored a super shot at the death but it was not enough to prevent Pulse taking victory and booking their place in the Grand Final on 6 July. 'Grit and determination' Player of the match, Pulse's Olivia Tchine: "I don't think it has sunk in yet but we had to work hard for that. We didn't have the best start - I don't know why. The fact we were still able to come out and grind showed we really wanted this."We haven't been a grand final for two years so it feels good to be back. We came into the changing room and it was like 'do we want this or not' and we came out to show it. In order for us to compete with the big teams we had to show we wanted it."Pulse director of netball, Sam Bird: "I am buzzing after that terrible start we had. I am really proud of the players for the grit and determination to pull it back."By half-time we knew the tide had turned. Defensively we were like a brick wall and it's such a big agile box which is difficult for any team to break through. We'll give our best against whoever we play next."Lightning head coach Vic Burgess: "I thought we had a good start but the third quarter we were hesitant in our plan and made errors."We had opportunities and didn't take them. We have another crack again next week in the preliminary final. We need to keep being consistent and execute things in attack and defence."There's lots positives and it was down to very small margins tonight. It could have gone either way, so we have to make sure our intensity is high and having that belief." Thunder cruise into preliminary final Manchester Thunder eased to a 79-49 victory over London Mavericks to secure a meeting with Lightning in next weekend's preliminary attack Elmere van der Berg led the way in a dominant display for Thunder with 46 goals while goal shooter Paige Reed weighed in with had led 24-13 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back despite the best efforts of Emily Andrew, who finished with 17 goals for the preliminary final will take place on the weekend of 29 June with the victors heading into the Grand Final to face Pulse on 6 July.
South Wales Argus
20-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Hannah Joseph: Lightning must bring their own energy to the Copper Box
Lightning beat London Pulse 58-53 in May, the only side to defeat the regular season table-toppers at home this season. It continued Lightning's fine record of results at the venue, with their last two Grand Final victories also coming in east London. Joseph knows her side will continue to fine tune their performance, but will be using last month's victory as the base ahead of Friday's major semi-final clash against the same opponents. She said: 'Last time we went down there we were super pleased with our performance for around 50 minutes so going into this one, we are looking at what we did well and how we can repeat that as well as those areas we want to fix up. 'Going away to Pulse is always a really hard place to play. They have so many fans and the Copper Box can get very loud at times, but we will prepare for this major semi-final as we would prepare for any semi-final. 'It is probably going to be majority Pulse, so it is a good opportunity to see how we can get around each other and find our own energy.' Lightning finished second in the regular season table, five points behind Pulse after defeat on the final day to Birmingham Panthers. It was a fourth loss of the season for the defending champions, and Joseph hopes her side can take heed of any lessons learned before they travel to London on Friday. 'We were really disappointed with the loss, we always go out there to win. More than anything we didn't feel like we performed,' she added. 'It definitely will give us a kick in the right direction and fire us up but ideally we would have won that and performed well. That's the way you want to go into semi-finals. Ultimately though for semi-finals it is about how you turn up on the day.' Lightning have plenty of big match experience in their ranks, with Joseph one of the core members of the side who have won the last two Netball Super League titles. Vic Burgess was able to add experienced names such as Samantha Wallace-Joseph, Shadine van der Merwe and Jodie Gibson to the ranks this season and Joseph believes having that know-how will serve them well. 'The big thing is all of us stepping up,' she said. 'There are leaders like Nat [Panagarry] who are super vocal but you need everyone to be contributing in their own way, even if that looks different. 'The amount of experience we have in the squad and the number of people who have played in finals puts us in a good place because it is very different.' While Lighting have good memories from their last encounter with Pulse, they will also be keenly aware of the reverse fixture back in March which saw Pulse power to a 77-51 win. 'That loss against Pulse was huge for us,' said Joseph. 'It was very early on in the season and as a squad we could rationalise that some of it was performance and some of it was just where we were in the season. 'There have been some losses we weren't overly pleased with this year but there aren't huge blowout games anymore. There are super competitive games and for the sport that is a good place to be.' Friday's prize is a ticket straight to the Grand Final at the O2 Arena on 6 July. The loser must fight again in next weekend's Preliminary Final, against either Manchester Thunder or London Mavericks before they too can dream of the O2. 'To play at the O2 is going to be amazing,' added Joseph. 'The way the fans have got behind games this year has been amazing, netball has been bigger than ever. 'To get a final at the O2 is huge. We said at the start of the season we wanted to be there, we want to win three championships in a row but there are still some matches to win before we get to that point.' To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on X, Instagram and TikTok, Netball Super League on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our newsletter. The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lightning have 'set the benchmark' - Wallace-Joseph
Loughborough Lightning's Sammy Wallace-Joseph believes the defending champions have "set the benchmark" for opposition sides this season. Lightning could become the first team to win three netball Super League titles in a row. They face London Pulse in the semi-final on Friday at Copper Box Arena in London (20:00 BST). The Leicestershire side have suffered two defeats in their past five games, including a defeat against local rivals Nottingham Forest who completed the double over the defending champions this season. "It's tough having teams gunning for you. They will play their best netball against you but credit to us because we have clearly set the benchmark," the goal-shooter told BBC Radio Leicester. Lightning are the only team to beat London Pulse at the Copper Box Arena this Wallace-Joseph believes Pulse are the team to beat this year. "It will be tough so I will be jumping for joy once we make the final and win it," she added."Pulse have definitely been the side to beat and we have shown we can do it."The London side earned themselves a home semi-final tie after finishing top of the regular season table, five points clear of Lightning who finished in second place.
South Wales Argus
19-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Sam Bird: Pulse excited for the big stage
Sam Bird believes her London Pulse side are ready to embrace the big stage ahead of their major semi-final against Loughborough Lightning. Pulse finished top of the regular season table and come into Friday's clash at the Copper Box full of confidence off the back of four straight wins. Their last defeat came at the hands of Lightning, who have proved Pulse's nemesis in recent seasons. Pulse's last three campaigns have ended at the hands of Lightning, including defeat in the 2023 Grand Final at the Copper Box. But Bird believes her young squad have matured immeasurably since then and are now relishing the big matches. 'They are so desperate to show what they can do,' said Bird. 'It has gone from being nervous on that big stage to thriving on it. There's no arrogance, there's no complacency but it's an excitement to be involved in these games now opposed to being a bit scared.' Confidence is the watchword for Bird and her Pulse side, who have turned the tears of two years ago into an unwavering determination to achieve a maiden Netball Super League title. Twelve wins from their 14 matches this season, including a 77-51 demolition of Lightning away from home in March, has certainly helped. 'It does feel like we have momentum, and the squad is still developing and improving, we are still looking at growth at this point,' added Bird. 'The fact we have won the Super Cup and then league is a good confidence boost, and confidence is really important. 'We know this game is going to be tight on Friday, nobody is going to roll over, but we have confidence to know we can win and that really important going into the game.' The season has not been without its hitches either; a seven-game unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Nottingham Forest in early May before Lightning won at the Copper Box two weeks later. The response, however, was exactly what Bird and her side needed in order to go again heading into the post-season. 'There was no finger-pointing, there was a lot of personal accountability both from the coaches and from players,' she revealed. 'We really recognised it was small things that contributed to those losses, and we were still the same strong roster.' Pulse's response on the court, four wins in a row to end the season, earned them top spot and a home major semi-final, meaning victory on Friday will send them straight through to the Grand Final at the O2 Arena. Bird is hoping home comforts can make all the difference, after reflecting that her squad may have been overwhelmed by changes to their routine ahead of last season's semi-final defeat to Lightning. 'It is really important to us to have this game at home,' said Bird. 'There is nothing better than playing at your home venue, an iconic venue like the Copper Box. It feels like we have done everything we can to put ourselves in a good position. 'Everybody is in their own bed, everyone is familiar with the venue. All our support staff are there; we have extra resource there to look after us. '[The major semi-final] is all new, so none of us as coaches have been through this process, so it is a new test for us. 'It feels less stressful to be in the major semi-final than a traditional semi-final, as that is knockout netball. It changes the mindset a little bit. We obviously want to win this game and then have a bit of recovery to peak for the final. That's the ideal route. 'It doesn't feel as edgy as when we played Loughborough last year in the semi-final, having beaten them twice in the league and then lost and it was all over. 'I genuinely feel like we couldn't have tried any harder this year, but just trying hard doesn't guarantee you anything.' To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on X, Instagram and TikTok, Netball Super League on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our newsletter. The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!
