Pulse win inaugural Netball Super Cup
London Pulse have beaten Leeds Rhinos to win the inaugural Netball Super Cup at Sheffield's Utilita Arena.Pulse's Olivia Tchine scored 16 points in the final, which the London club won 20-15.The standalone competition took place before the Netball Super League (NSL) starts on 14 March."I am so proud of the girls, so excited," player of the final and Pulse captain Zara Everitt told Sky Sports."In previous years we have just missed out, we know this isn't the league trophy but it gives us a taste of, hopefully, what is to come."The format throughout the one-day competition saw each game last 14 minutes, rather than the usual 60.Manchester Thunder and Leeds Rhinos topped the two groups after each team had played three matches.Despite their great form all day, Manchester Thunder narrowly lost 17-16 to London Pulse in the semi-final thanks to great late defending by Pulse's Funmi Fadoju.There was another nail-biter in the other semi-final with Leeds Rhinos just pipping Nottingham Forest 15-13.
As play got under way in the final, Pulse goal shooter Tchine was a standout performer, scoring three in a row to cancel out Leeds shooter Joyce Mvula's early score.Rhinos captain Bethany Brittain hit back next but Nichole Breedt then slotted in a super shot - a new rule which allows shooters to score two points from a dedicated area on the edge of the shooting circle during the last five minutes of each of the four quarters of every match.Scores flew back and forth but Pulse gained a 12-6 lead at half-time.Leeds looked as though they were staging a comeback, particularly through the skill of Sophie Egbaran in the second half.However, Tchine kept the scoreboard ticking to give Pulse the title.Pulse will open their NSL campaign on 16 March, while Leeds' season begins on 14 March against the Birmingham Panthers.
Full Netball Super Cup results
Group stage:Birmingham Panthers 13-15 London Mavericks Nottingham Forest 13-22 Manchester Thunder Leeds Rhinos 12-17 Cardiff Dragons Loughborough Lightning 16-16 London Pulse Manchester Thunder 20-14 Birmingham Panthers London Mavericks 15-29 Nottingham London Pulse 13-16 Leeds Rhinos Cardiff Dragons 15-18 Loughborough Lightning Birmingham Panthers 16-18 Nottingham Forest Manchester Thunder 17-12 London MavericksLeeds Rhinos 12-11 Loughborough LightningCardiff Dragons 7-15 London PulseSemi-finals:Manchester Thunder 16-17 London PulseNottingham 13-15 Leeds RhinosFinal:London Pulse 20-15 Leeds Rhinos
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