Lightning beat Thunder to win second title in a row

Loughborough Lightning hit four-time champions Manchester Thunder 70-54 to triumph a 2nd consecutive Netball Super League (NSL) title astatine Resorts World Arena successful Birmingham.

Thunder struggled to retrieve from a slow commencement arsenic Lightning dominated a thrilling final, starring from commencement to decorativeness to unafraid their 3rd title.

At nan last whistle Lightning's players hugged each different and danced pinch nan crowd of much than 8,000, a grounds for a Super League Grand Final.

It is nan first clip a squad has won consecutive titles since Surrey Storm successful 2015 and 2016.

This was nan past play of nan NSL successful its existent guise arsenic it relaunches successful 2025, successful a move towards professionalisation.

Thunder hit Lightning successful nan 2022 Grand Final and it was clear Vic Burgess' broadside had done their homework connected nan Manchester side, to avenge nan conclusion which gave Thunder a 4th title.

Thunder started poorly and immoderate sloppy play and bad boy passing near them trailing by six aft conscionable 9 minutes.

But protect brace Shadine van der Merwe and Josie Huckle mixed good to adjacent nan spread to 2 aft nan opening quarter.

The preamble of South Africa shooter Elmere van der Berg instantly provided a smoother way to extremity for Thunder, but Lightning were slick successful attack.

Rhea Dixon and Mary Cholhok, nan league's apical extremity scorer, provided outlets for nan defending champions to return a 33-27 lead astatine half-time.

Lightning continued to build their lead successful nan 3rd 4th and, trailing by 10, Thunder caput coach Karen Greig made changes earlier nan lucifer turned scrappy.

Lightning skipper Natalie Panagarry was suspended for 2 minutes for catching Thunder defender Ella Bowen connected nan caput but Thunder grounded to capitalise connected having an other player.

The only conclusion Thunder had tasted during nan regular play came against Lightning and Greig delivered a rousing squad talk earlier nan last period, urging her players to "show really overmuch they want it".

But a seven-goal shortage proved excessively overmuch arsenic Lightning seemed to triumph each shot and forced errors from Thunder.

Dixon led from nan front, missing conscionable 1 of her 20 shots, while Panagarry provided nan motor successful mid-court and Beth Cobden, who missed astir of past play done injury, was a coagulated beingness astatine helping defence.

Thunder had vanished apical of nan convention pinch conscionable 1 conclusion each play but triumph for Lightning intends they will participate nan caller shape of elite netball successful nan UK arsenic champions.