Forest inflict shock first defeat on leaders Pulse
Nottingham Forest are playing their first season in the Netball Super League
- Published
Netball Super League newcomers Nottingham Forest inflicted a shock first defeat on leaders London Pulse.
Pulse had won all seven of their matches going into the encounter, while Forest were fifth in the table but the 69-59 win keeps them in the hunt for a semi-final spot.
Forest had a slender lead of 36-31 at half-time but held their nerve with goal-shooter Rolene Streutker scoring 43 goals, while centre Iona Christian was named player of the match.
Pulse struggled to match their scoring rate, with a shooting success rate of 59% compared with Forest's 72%.
Pulse remain in top spot but are under pressure from Loughborough Lightning, who are just two points behind them in second after a 65-53 win against Manchester Thunder on Friday.
Thunder had the better of the early stages, but Lightning fought back to lead 38-27 at half-time.
The hosts scored 27 more points after the break to secure victory and move three points above Thunder, after starting the evening tied on 16 points.
Elsewhere, London Mavericks' 72-61 win against Cardiff Dragons became the first game of the season to go to extra time.
Lightning's Samantha Wallace-Joseph scored 23 goals, while Thunder's Elmere van der Berg led the scoring with 27 goals.
Lightning's Shadine van der Merwe was named player of the match for her performance against her former team.
Dragons failed to record their first win of the season despite leading by 10 points in the third quarter.
The hosts Mavericks fought back to level the score at full-time and this season there are no draws allowed so the match went to extra time.
The two teams continued to battle it out but Mavericks held the lead at half-time of extra time with a 64-61 scoreline.
Player of the match Emma Thacker was key for the hosts as they stretched their lead to secure the thrilling win.
In the final match of the round, Birmingham Panthers earned just their second win of the season with a narrow 71-69 victory over Leeds Rhinos.
There was little to separate the sides as the match went to extra time with the scores tied 59-59.
Panthers' goal-attack Gabby Sinclair netted the winning goal in the closing seconds to secure the win, while her team-mate wing-attack Ruth Hughes was named player of the match.
Reaction to Forest v Pulse
Player of the match, Nottingham Forest centre Iona Christian: "I'm a bit lost for words but I am so proud of all the girls to put on a performance like that against an incredible Pulse side.
"They are the team to beat, so to do that in front of our home crowd feels absolutely amazing."
Nottingham Forest head coach Chelsea Pitman: "This feels really good. I think I only enjoyed the last minute - that was the only time I could really take it all in!
"We were relentless and gritty, but I still don't think we are at our best yet."
London Pulse head coach Sam Bird: "We made too many errors, but credit to Forest, they played so well. It was difficult for us to get our connections going, they shut us down.
"We got frustrated by that and lost our rhythm a little bit. But I don't want to over-analyse, it is disappointing but in some ways it can be quite freeing when that unbeaten label is gone."
Fixtures and results
Round eight
Friday, 2 May
Loughborough Lightning 65-53 Manchester Thunder
Saturday, 3 May
London Mavericks 72-61 Cardiff Dragons
Sunday, 4 May
Nottingham Forest 69-59 London Pulse
Birmingham Panthers 71-69 Leeds Rhinos