Thunder secure semi-final spot with win over Dragons

Natalie Metcalf [left] provided 36 feeds into the shooting circle against Cardiff Dragons

Manchester Thunder have become the first team in the Netball Super League to secure their spot in the semi-finals with a 63-44 win over Cardiff Dragons.

It was a close contest until the end of the third quarter, which Thunder won 16-9.

Thunder have made the last four with five rounds of the regular season left to play.

"They have some really class players and I was happy we could push through in the end," player of the match Taylor McKevitt told the BBC.

"The Thunder family are always so loud, so loyal. Honestly we have the best fans in the league, they help us get over the line."

Thunder knew they needed to win to put some distance between themselves and defending champions Loughborough Lightning and London Pulse.

Before Thunder's match on Saturday, Loughborough and Pulse were level with them on points.

London Pulse did keep the pressure up on the Manchester team with a gritty 58-53 win over Surrey Storm on Friday.

Olivia Tchine led the way for Pulse at the Copper Box Arena as she bagged 41 goals while Berri Neil chipped in with 17.

Pulse have 33 points from 13 matches and are level with Thunder and Loughborough Lightning, though the Manchester outfit have played a game fewer.

"I am proud of the resilience shown by the players. It was a stressful game, but stressful in a good way," Pulse director of netball Sam Bird told Sky Sports.

"I want us to play an exciting brand of netball. The fans have loved what they have seen."

Lightning had much more straightforward victory as they eased to a 76-51 win away to Team Bath as Mary Cholhok chalked up 41 goals.

Elsewhere, Joyce Mvula bagged 40 goals and Harriet Jones 19 as Leeds Rhinos ran out 59-49 winners over Saracens Mavericks in Sheffield.

Finally, Strathclyde Sirens were defeated by Severn Stars 61-50.