Brave display but Stars fall to defeat against Loughborough
SEVERN Stars rose to the challenge of playing high-flyers Loughborough Lightning, providing an entertaining and competitive game that finished with their opponents taking a 50-41 win.
The side took on Lightning, who sit second in the Vitality Netball Superleague, at London’s Copperbox Arena, and took confidence from a third win of the season last weekend.
Lightning took an early lead and extended that in the second quarter, but Stars fought back in the third and fourth quarters to bring the score within four goals, but ultimately their opponents were able to pull away in the final minutes.
A fast first set of goals from both teams opened the match, with player of the match Natalie Panagarry, at centre for Lightning, dictating play through the centre court and linking well with her shooter Mary Cholhok.
Stars shooter Georgia Rowe started the game with strong holds and 100 per cent shooting statistics, however Stars struggled on getting the ball into its attacking third, with pressure being applied by Lightning’s wing defence Beth Cobden and the first quarter finished with Lightning 12-9 in front.
Stars brought new signing Kyra Jones on at centre for the start of the second quarter, but miscommunication between shooters Paige Reed and Rowe, along with ball placement errors in the through court from Stars, allowed the gap to grow to eight goals.
Lightning’s goal defence Sam May was able to read the play through court and pick off intercepts. But Stars’ Lucy Herdman, with a back and up interception caused disruption to Lightning’s flow and kept Stars within a competitive distance, with the half-time score at 26-19.
Lightning changed up its defensive pairing for the third quarter, bringing May back to goal keeper but it proved a bright start to the quarter for Stars, with a turnover from defender Dee Bolakoro.
Fancy footwork from Jones allowed her to find Reed under the post and the gap closed to five.
With four minutes left in the quarter, Cobden turned over the ball, only for Stars’ wing defence Nia Jones to also turn over the ball.
Stars continued to stay in contention and finished the third quarter 36-31 down.
Lightning shooter Cholhok missed her first attempt in the final quarter and Herdman won the rebound, but Stars were unable to convert the chance.
Frantic play followed from both sides as the scoreline fluctuated between four and five goals difference. but accurate shooting from Ella Clark, who was comfortable scoring at range, allowed Lightning to pull away.
Stars head coach Melissa Bessell said: “I am really pleased with [the performance, from] start to finish. Every quarter we kept pushing forward, we even won a quarter, and we didn’t lose momentum.”
Stars face Leeds Rhinos at the Copperbox Arena on Sunday at 12pm.