Lightning win again but semi-final battle is hotting up

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning continued their winning run in the Vitality Netball Superleague with a 52-46 home victory over Team Bath at the Sir David Wallace Arena.

The reigning champions have only lost once this season – to leaders Manchester Thunder – and have already booked a semi-final spot.

Thunder were again in ruthless form, brushing aside Leeds Rhinos 84-49 to remain unbeaten.

A last-gasp winner from Rhinos’ Sigi Burger had secured a 49-48 victory over Surrey Storm two days earlier.

Strathclyde Sirens derailed Saracens Mavericks’ hopes of securing a semi-final spot with a hard fought 57-50 win in round 17 of the season.

Sirens’ triumph was their first in five games and Mavericks’ fourth loss on the spin.

The London side will turn to their double game week in the next round to try to salvage some points and a place in the top four, but face tough opponents in fellow top-four contenders Storm and runaway leaders Thunder.

Celtic Dragons overcame their nearest rivals at the bottom of the table, beating Severn Stars 57-51 to earn only their second win of the campaign, both of which have come against Stars.

They followed up with an agonisingly close game against Wasps, where the two-time champions managed to rack up a last-second goal against the Welsh outfit to emerge 46-45 winners.

Most teams have just three games left to play of the regular season as they pursue the two semi-final spots still to be decided, with Thunder and Lightning already in the last four.

There is still hope for Bath, Mavericks, Storm and possibly even last year’s semi-finalists Rhinos if other teams slip up, while London Pulse, who did not play this week, seem to be secure in third with four games remaining.

Bath currently occupy the fourth spot but, should Mavericks win their game in hand, they will draw level on points, separated only by goal difference.

But Mavericks have made things difficult for themselves by losing to Sirens, a game they should be winning, and face what is arguably the toughest final run of the contenders with games against Storm, Thunder, Rhinos and Bath.

Conceding a last-second goal to Rhinos on Friday to miss out on three points was a hammer blow to Storm’s bid and a major boost to their Yorkshire-based opponents, who have struggled for consistency all season but could string a late run together to challenge for fourth.

Bath have struggled with injuries and their squad has at times been ravaged by Covid, leading to inconsistency and some shock results, but their experience in reaching every semi-final stage since 2016 could be enough to see them over the line.