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London Pulse

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Loughborough Lightning

Match Details

2nd April 2022
Round 11
Copper Box Arena
Stats Report

Match Results

Watch On: Broadcaster Logo

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First Centre Pass

Tayla Honey
Tayla Honey London Pulse View profile

Team Stats

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Performance Stats

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Performance Stats

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Lightning strike back as Pulse suffer first home defeat

Mary Cholhok gets 53 goals under the post for Loughborough Lightning. Image: Ben Lumley Photography

London Pulse lost their first home game of the season as Loughborough Lightning returned to winning ways.

Quarter 1:

With Funmi Fadoju unavailable for selection today, Jas Odeogberin got the start at GD in an otherwise familiar line-up. Lighting started brightly and put early pressure on Pulse throughout the court, forcing uncharacteristic errors. With Pulse unable to get a foot hold, Lightning capitalised and limited Pulse to only 6 goals, while landing 20 of their own.

Quarter 2:

Pulse Head Coach Sam Bird turned to the bench and made some alterations to stem the Lightning flow with Ellie Rattu coming on on at C and Taylor Honey moving to WA . The hosts began to show more attacking threat, almost doubling the amount of goals on the board from the first quarter but Lightning continued to drive the ball through court with ease and extending their strong lead going into the break by five more points.

Quarter 3:

Pulse continued to ring in the changes for Q3. Kira Rothwell came on at GA, Dekker returned to court at C, Rattu moved to WD and Zara Everitt came in at GD.

Great defensive work from Keable, Rattu and Everitt saw Pulse turn over more ball with attacks rewarding good defensive work with goals. With three minutes left in the quarter, Berri Neil entered the game at GS and Pulse begin to play a with a little more freedom towards the end of the third quarter as Lightning maintained a firm grip on the game.

Quarter 4: 

Substitute Alicia Scholes came on for a late appearance in place of Honey at WA and combined well with Neil and Rothwell around the shooting circle, showing amazing video with her feeds to show Lightning the quality that has taken Pulse this high up the table so far.

The hosts continue to work hard defensively as both sides showed why they have the top two defensive records in the league.

In the end, Lightning held out to for a 66-44 victory as Pulse fall to their first home defeat of the season.

After game Sam Bird commented: "We know when Loughborough start well they blitz other teams and today we were not able to start well. We take positives from winning the second half but we know we can play better than that. Loughborough showed they are a class side today but I’m proud of how we responded in the end."

Gilbert Player of the Match: Hannah Joseph, Loughborough Lightning

Thank you so much to all of our London pulse supporters, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone else who contributes to our home games – we appreciate all of you.

Match report provided by London Pulse. 

You can also watch the highlights from all the games in the VNSL 2022 season HERE. Buy tickets to support London Pulse at their home games here and support Loughborough Lightning at their home ground by buying tickets here.

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