Netball Super League Grand Final: London Pulse deny Loughborough Lightning three-peat with 53-45 victory at The O2 | Netball News
London Pulse won his first Netball Super League title while they were defeating the double reigning champion Loughborough Lightning 53-45 in the grand final.
Pulse – who had already defeated lightning twice this season – won the victory on the floor at home in front of a record crowd at the O2, with Funmi Fadoju named player of the match.
Lightning, which was looking for the first three titles of the league, had the first central pass, but the defense of Pulse was firm, Halimat Aido quickly winning the first interception of the game allowing Liv Tchine to take the first point of the final.
While the nerves of the teams settled, both made treatment errors allowing many reversals and opportunities, which first favored the champions in title.
As the time was approached, Pulse found their flow and the shooting circle, but both sides had trouble converting. But Tchine favorable to fans arrived to take the first great blow while the London team gained confidence in front of a captivated crowd.
Alicia Scholes grabs the Beth Cobden Ballon under pressure from Loughborough Lightning
Towards the end of the first quarter, Pulse had built a narrow advance, but rugged by the crowd that Tchine sank two additional points to extend the advance to 12-8.
Pulse continued to show his strength in the second quarter despite a determined loughborough and a Calm Wallace-Joseph, who took regular shots from the Super Coup.
While Pulse increased their advance at 20-13, the super blow changed the game again. Lightning ripposted and capitalized on the two-point opportunities to bring Pulse with Clark and Wallace-Joseph little willing to take a point.
Tyler Orr (left) of London Pulse and Beth Cobden from Lughborough Lightning in action in front of a large crowd at the O2 Arena
Their efforts brought their fruit while Wallace-Joseph brought his team less than two with a super shot beating buzzer, bringing the scoring to 26-24 at halftime.
Despite the Lightning duo of Clark and Wallace-Joseph working well together, their teammates from Center Center had trouble breaking the Pulse defense, which featured the formidable Fadoju.
Gracie Smith, sixteen, fed two long consecutive shots in Tchine’s hands to extend Pulse’s advance at 39-33 with nine and a half minutes of the third quarter.
Despite a brief fear of injuries to Tchine, nothing stopped the side of Pulse while their shooter converted two other shots to extend the advance to a comfortable 41-33.
Lightning was released by fighting in the last quarter and in the five minutes, had reduced their deficit to 44-38. Pulse quickly called the died tactical dead with just over eight minutes, and they came back quieter and about to make the history of the team.
Whenever the ball landed in pulse hands in the fence minutes, the arena has exploded. On the edge of their seats, the crowd caused the champions which will soon be champions while the last minute moved.
London Pulse Adio Halimat celebrates victory
Tchine took a great blow when the clock struck zero to arouse the joy of the crowd of wrapped O2, which jumped on the feet while the celebrations resonated in the arena.
The young Smith pushed the crowd to raise the stronger volume at the end of the match, London Pulse adding the big final trophy to their super cup and his regular season title earlier in the season.
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