Lightning return from Scotland triumphant after emphatic victory over Sirens

VITALITY NETBALL SUPERLEAGUE

UWS SIRENS 45 LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 62 LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning continued their upward trajectory as they got the better of Scottish side UWS Sirens in Glasgow on Friday night.

In their second of two long distance away trips in the space of five days, Lightning showed no sign of fatigue as they ran out 62-45 winners to continue their rise up the Vitality Netball Superleague standings.

Having made the journey north of the border, Anna Carter named an unchanged team from their convincing 66-38 victory over Celtic Dragons on Monday, and donning their white away kit looked lively from the off, racing into a 15-8 first quarter lead.

In the second quarter Lightning picked up where they left off, Proscovia and Ella Clark extended the lead to 36-17 with flawless shooting, Hannah Joseph’s impressive long range passes proved opportunity after opportunity for her teammates and Vicki Oyesola’s athleticism and Shamera Sterling’s interceptions left the Sirens attack feeding off scraps.

Early in the third quarter Head Coach Anna Carter made a brace of changes, Lauren Steadman and Brittany Coleman coming on to replace Beth Cobden and Peace Proscovia, the latter ending the game having scored 32 of 36 attempts at goal.

Rebekah Airey was next to take to court, replacing Sterling at goal keeper, but despite three changes Lightning remained in the ascendency with a 51-28 advantage.

The final change came at the start of the fourth, Anya Wood replacing Loughborough University student Vicky Oyesola meaning the full Lightning squad got at least a quarter of action, showing the strength in depth the coaching team have at their disposal as Loughborough closed out an emphatic 62-45 win.

The next match is on Saturday, May 26 against the Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.