Lightning extend their perfect start
SEVERN STARS 56 LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 70 Vitality Superleague
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning extended their perfect start to the Superleague season at the weekend with a 70-56 victory over the Seven Stars.
Missing captain Nat Panagarry with a minor injury and Fran Williams because of the ongoing pandemic, the reigning champs took an early 7-5 lead in the first quarter but the Severn Stars fought back and closed the quarter ahead by one point at 18-17.
The second period was nip and tuck but Lightning took over the lead and closed the half ahead 36-31 and got stronger in the third period to open up a commanding 12 point cushion as the teams entered the final quarter.
Coach Victoria Burgess made several changes and the revamped line up carried on in a similar vein as they held on to their advantage and eased to a 70-56 victory.
The only downside to the performance was an injury to young midcourter Georgie Brock-Taylor who has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2022 Vitality Netball Superleague after sustaining an injury to her knee.
Burgess said: “She has such a great future ahead of her along with her passion for netball and resilience, I have no doubt she will be focused and work hard to get back on the court, and we will fully support her on her journey.”
Now attention turns to a top of the table clash with Manchester Thunder, the only other team with a 100 per cent record, who top the table having played a game more.
The teams will face each other at Loughborough on Monday, March 28, with all the action live on Sky Sports from 5pm.