Loughborough Lightning Extend Perfect Season with Ninth Consecutive Win

Loughborough Lightning maintained their 100% record with a commanding 82-62 victory over LexisNexis Dragons to move back to the top of the Netball Super League (NSL) table. Lightning, who started the game in second, have recorded nine wins from nine games this season and are now certain of a top-four finish after London Mavericks were beaten by AO Manchester Thunder. Lightning's Samantha Wallace-Joseph was top-scorer with 46 goals, while Dragons' Georgia Rowe netted 41 times. The league leaders continued to show their attacking prowess with the most goals in the league. They have struck 98 times more than second-placed London Pulse. Elsewhere on Saturday, Pulse continued their fine form by thrashing Birmingham Panthers 61-35 to momentarily climb to the top of the NSL standings. Pulse extended their winning streak to six matches and have only lost to Loughborough Lightning this season. In contrast, Panthers, who have never beaten Pulse in the NSL, have only won one game all campaign and sit bottom of the standings. Liv Tchine top-scored with 19 goals as Pulse team-mates Sophie Kelly and Kamogelo Maseko each chipped in with 10. Pulse also still proudly boast the best defence in the league with 454 goals against, compared with the 541 scored against Lightning.