Lightning blast Thunder

Loughborough Lightning retained the leadership of the Co-operative Netball Superleague with a 74-38 victory over Northern Thunder.

Win takes leaders three clear

Loughborough Lightning retained the leadership of the Co-operative Netball Superleague with an impressive 74-38 victory over bottom side Northern Thunder. The win puts Lightning three points clear of Team Northumbria, in second place, who play reigning champions Team Bath (currently third) on Monday evening. With one eye on the play-offs, Loughborough coach Rose Port took the opportunity to rotate her bench, giving all 12 players court time as she looked to cement key combinations ahead of the sterner challenges ahead. She will be particularly pleased with the response from her four shooters, who put in a dominant and accurate performance, scoring 74 from 93 attempts - a success rate of 89%. The game started at a blistering pace, which took Thunder by surprise. England U21 international Sarah Jane O'Sullivan, in only her second Superleague start, fitted seamlessly into the Loughborough attack and found shooters Becky James and Lisa Stephenson in space with ease and accuracy.

Consistency

Thunder upped their work rate, but could not compete with the movement and consistency of the home side, and trailed 9-20 at the end of the first quarter. England international Jo Harten was introduced at GS for Lightning at the start of the second period, and the change initially unsettled the home team. However, as the midcourt adapted to the new playing style, Lightning strung together eight unanswered goals to pull away again. For Thunder, Jarman and Ferneyhough were tireless in defence, but Harten's height and reach frequently frustrated their efforts, and despite some neat attacking moves of their own between Taylor, Beattie and de Shong, the Northerners soon found themselves on the back foot once4 more. At half time, Loughborough led 42-19. Welsh international Nicola Szehofner returned to Superleague competition at the start of the second half for Northern Thunder after recovering from a longstanding back injury. Her presence, combined with the elevation and determination of Thunder GD Lisa Ferneyhough had an initial impact, slowing the Loughborough rate of scoring. However, the pressure was soon back on the visitors, thanks to some superb shooting by Lauren Doyle, now on court at GA, and swarming centre court defence from the home side's Kate Murphy, Jade Clarke and Olivia Murphy, who snapped up any loose possession. Lightning took the quarter 17-8 and were fully in control of the game. However, Thunder's determination was undiminished, and with Charlotte Beenham now at GA, netting 7 from 8 for the final period, the quarter was the closest of the night. Loughborough took it 15/11 to take the match, but Thunder will take heart from the grit and determination which they showed despite intense pressure. Loughborough now turn their thoughts to Friday's game against reigning champions TeamBath, and with only four more weeks of regular competition, they know that every goal is crucial in the race to net a play off spot. Loughborough Lightning: GS James, GA Stephenson, WA O'Sullivan, C O Murphy, WD Clarke, GD Tomlin, GK Penny.
Changes / substitutions; 2nd Q: GS Harten, GK Reid, 3rd Q: GA Doyle, O Murphy to WA, Clarke to C, WD K Murphy, GD Luck, 4th Q: James to GS, O'Sullivan to WA, Penny to GK. Northern Thunder: GS De Shong, GA Beattie, WA Taylor, C Greenhough, WD Gayle, GD Ferneyhough, GK Jarman.
Changes / substitutions: 2nd Q: C Ghazizadeh, WD Beenham, 3rd Q: C Boyes, GK Szehofner, 4th Q; Beenham to GA, Gayle to C, Ghazizadeh to WD. Shooting statistics:
Loughborough Lightning: Doyle 9/10, Harten 27/30, James 24/28, Stephenson 14/15. Northern Thunder: Beattie 6/9, Beenham 7/8, De Shong 25/34. Umpires: Gary Burgess and Tracey Smith.