Lightning show off title credentials in big win
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING got their 2023 Netball Superleague Season off to a great start with an emphatic win over Team Bath at the season opening event held in Nottingham which saw all ten NSL teams come together for the first time in a single day.
Off to a flying start Lightning held their own against Team Bath who found themselves struggling to match their intensity. Shooters Thacker and Cholhok put on yet another display of precision and composure as Lightning ended the quarter ahead 23-13.
Lightning dominated the first four minutes of the second quarter but
Team Bath work tirelessly to keep the ten-point lead from growing any further. Vital interceptions from team captain Panagarry ensured the shooting duo could cleanly as Lightning closed te half up 43-32.
A few changes to Lightning’s side for quarter three saw Zan Vimbela return to the court as goalkeeper after her international call up for South Africa, as well as a switch of goal attack from Thacker with a debut from Rhea Dixon. The partnership of Cholhok and Dixon in the attacking third prove equally effective as the previous with Lightning scoring another ten points to Bath’s one within five minutes of the third quarter.
Further substitutions from Lighting
head coach Vic Burgess saw Panagarry switched to wing defence as Future Roses Bella Baylis makes her debut for the squad as centre as Lightning stormed to a lead of 28.
The final quarter began with Thacker returning to court as goal shooter, swiftly making the first conversion of the quarter, while Suzie Liverseidge and Jas Odeogberin replaced Panagarry and Joseph.
This major change throughout the midcourt allowed for fresh legs and Lightning’s lead grew as they patiently worked their way through the defence of Team Bath and clinched a massive 86-52 victory.
Head Coach Vic Burgess noted the win as a great start to the season, a form which they look to continue;
“A great score line for us, we reached 86 goals which is an incredible start to the season. Some really good work in the second quarter, we just didn’t win as much ball as we would have liked to, so we focused on that at half time. We looked at being more ruthless in those spaces and that definitely paid off.
“There were a few nerves in the changing rooms before but that’s natural after preseason. Putting your work and life into these games, it is going to leave a bit of nerves but that settled once the girls were on the court warming up.”
Lightning return to the court at Loughborough University for round two of the NSL season against Celtic Dragons on Saturday (February 18).