Lightning are too strong for the Sirens

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning added another three points to the table on Friday night, with an outstanding 61-35 victory over Strathclyde Sirens in round ten of the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL).

After suffering defeat on Easter Sunday to reigning champions Manchester Thunder, Lightning headed into the double header weekend with a fierce determination to right their wrongs and get off to a strong start.

Facing Sirens just two weeks previous in round eight, Lightning claimed victory by just five goals with a 43-38 final score and a shaky start.

Havin gained the opportunity to look back on the match and work hard on their errors, lightning aimed to push that victory wider in Friday night’s match.

Opening the weekend’s proceedings with a one-minute silence to honour HRH Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh who sadly passed away on Friday morning, both sides stepped onto court wearing black arm bands as a mark of respect.

Storming out of the blocks, Lightning quickly ran up a 5-goal lead, within three minutes of the opening whistle and ended the opening quarter with a fourpoint lead.

Despite maintaining their lead, Lightning’s feed into the circle began to falter in the second quarter with looped passes into Cholhok quickly stolen by Sirens’ star signing for 2021 Malawi goalkeeper Towera Vinkhumbo.

The half ended with Lightning holding a slendert 25-23 advantage.

Head Coach Sara Bayman switched up her line-up for the second half, bringing young guns Suzie Liverseidge and Jas Odeogberin on to the goal attack and goal defence positions.

Creating an instant momentum shift Lighting dominated the quarter and built up a comfortable 15 goal lead.

Eager to put the game to bed, Lightning returned to court aiming to maintain their lead and rotate the bench, which is exactly what they did, easing to a 61-35 win.