Loughborough Lightning fight back to set up Grand Final with Pulse

Loughborough Lightning booked their place in the 2025 Netball Super League Grand Final with a comeback 69-57 win over Manchester Thunder. 

In a replay of the 2024 Grand Final, defending champions Loughborough Lightning were on the back foot after the first quarter of the preliminary final. 

But a moment of magic from their attacking end inspired a fightback that saw them flip the script before the first half was out. 

Lightning then used all of their title-winning know-how to keep Thunder at bay and ensure their shot at a historic third title goes down to the final game. 

Loughborough Lightning will now take on London Pulse in the Netball Super League Grand Final at the O2 in London on Sunday 6 July. 

Lightning moved into an early lead with Shadine van der Merwe having an impact against her former team. 

Thunder closed the gap with a stunning intercept from Amy Carter before taking the lead for the first time. 

From there, the away side stretched into the biggest lead of the match, putting huge pressure on Lightning’s shooters as Berri Neil was penalised for held ball. 

Elmere van der Berg did what she had been doing all season and sunk goals when they mattered most, moving Thunder to a seven-goal lead at the end of the first quarter.  

Lightning responded emphatically with Alice Harvey stopping a Thunder attack in its tracks as the Loughborough defence denied their opposition options. 

The home side then showed just how slick their connections can be as Samantha Wallace-Joseph started and finished a move that also saw link ups with Ella Clark and Hannah Joseph. 

It was a moment that seemed to tip the balance back towards the hosts as Wallace-Joseph then sunk a Soft & Gentle Super Shot at the second time of asking to level the proceedings. 

Lightning began to score with increasing regularity and smoothness to see a 14-goal swing as the defending champions held a 37-30 lead at half-time. 

Reflecting on the change in fortunes, Joseph said: “The first quarter of the game doesn’t determine the rest of the game, we just remained confident and positive in our structure. 

“What we were trying to do was good, we just had too many errors and the Super Shot meant that can blow out quite quickly.  

“I am really proud of the team to stay confident because that second quarter was unbelievable and really put us in a good place for the rest of the game.” 

The lead grew for Lightning after the restart with Thunder searching for stability and opportunity. 

Loughborough afforded them neither as a missed Super Shot for Van der Berg was turned into one made by Wallace-Joseph. 

And then there was another as the shooter remained cool, calm and collected in the heat of battle. 

She helped move Loughborough Lightning to a 12-point lead with 15 minutes to go. 

It was going to take a miracle for Thunder to fight back and with the task looking seemingly impossible, the Manchester side were unable to find the resolve they needed. 

Captain Amy Carter reflected: "Our word today was belief and we started with belief and it tailed off a bit.

"We needed to convert in the times that were really important and that would have taken us through but we weren't able to do that. We’ll come back better next year.

The margin remained the same at the full-time whistle as Lightning’s Sir David Wallace Arena erupted into celebrations. 

Wallace-Joseph said: “It is unbelievable, it really is a dream come true. This is my first season with Loughborough Lightning and I am excited. 

“It is a great feeling that there is one more week to go and we could be holding the trophy.   

“We will take confidence, we locked in from training after the loss from last week and I think it is the confidence from training going into this game. 

“We have played Pulse three times so I am ready, I am excited, the girls are ready and we just want to take it one step at a time.”

The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!

Photos courtesy of Flynn Duggan