[Photo credit: Morgan Harlow]
London Pulse came back to beat Severn Stars 52-48 to win bronze at the Netball Super League Grand Final at Resorts World Arena.
In their final game as a team, Finals Day debutants Stars played like a team with big game experience to build out a lead that at its highest stood at eight before the fightback from Pulse came.
The London side have been here before and their late charge told as the defensive pair of Funmi Fadoju and Halimat Adio helped their team to a battling win.
London Pulse utilised their long-range abilities to build the first lead of the game, first Liv Tchine’s shots from deep in the circle before Alicia Scholes cut through the Stars’ defence with long passes to right under the post.
Severn Stars’ slick feeds then saw them take the lead for the first time and they then put pressure on Pulse whose play became frantic.
Niamh Cooper produced a stunning interception in the corner of the court to typify Stars’ dogged performance.
Her turnover allowed Severn Stars to build their lead up to four by the first quarter break.
The second quarter saw Stars extend their advantage even further in Birmingham as they showed no nerves with patient passing helping them to grow their lead.
Their team spirit shone through as the bench rose to cheer a forced error from Pulse’s attackers before Gabby Marshall put it all on the line to keep the ball in and advance the lead up to seven goals, the biggest lead of the third-place play-off.
Pulse Head Coach Sam Bird knew it was time to make changes with Brie Grierson replacing Nichole Taljaard at wing attack, but the real change saw the arrival of Adio at goal keeper as she linked up with Fadoju to turn the tide.
The team in pink were able to close the gap to five at the end of the first half and the advantage was down to just two within minutes of the third quarter starting.
Fadoju’s tireless defensive work allowed Pulse to work the ball to the shooting circle in no time and saw the lead disappear for Severn Stars.
With 15 minutes to go, there was nothing to separate the two teams but Pulse became laser-focused on the bronze medal to force Stars into errors that had not been there earlier in the game to move three goals ahead.
Stars kept fighting but found it harder and harder to get the ball to goal and saw their final game end in defeat while Pulse ensured there was a bronzed shine to their season.
