After many postponed fixtures due to the harsh Winter Weather Lightning finally got their home Cooperative Netball Superleague campaign started on Saturday 30 January in a tough home fixture against Hertfordshire Mavericks.
With Lightning still missing many defensive players due to injury, Layla Guscoth and Emma Bliss again started in defence, hoping to keep experienced Mavericks’ England shooter Louise Brownfield and under 21 shooter Ella Clark quiet. However many eyes would have been on the other end of the court with Lightning’s captain Jo Harten, starting at goal shooter, facing fellow England team mate Amanda Newton at goal keeper, both of whom have been in good form.
Lightning started the game strongly, intercepting Mavericks’ first centre pass of the game, and bringing the ball down the court at speed, culminating with Harten converting. They continued to play with energy and at pace, with Harten linking up well with Alex Kirk in the circle, and Layla Guscoth making some vital interceptions in defence. However, Mavericks’ experienced team soon settled into the game and thanks to some neat passing between Camilla Buchanan and England’s Karen Atkinson in centre court, Mavericks went in at quarter time 13-11 up.
Again, Lightning started the quarter well, converting their first centre pass. However, Mavericks’ strong finish to the first quarter continued into the second, with the Newton and Hutchinson closing down more of Lightning’s attacks, leading the way for some slick passing through the court. The experience of Mavericks’ England players was starting to show, as Lightning often made the interceptions, but failed to build on them. As a result, Maverick extended their lead from the first quarter, winning at half time 28-18.
The start of the second half saw both teams make changes, with Lightning coach Olivia Murphy bringing on Masego Moutang came on at wing defence. Mavericks also changed their defence, with Buchanan moving back to wing defence and Newton and Hutchinson swapping round in the circle. Lightning’s defence continued to put the Mavericks attack under pressure, with Guscoth in particular making some crucial tips. However, this was not enough as Lightning’s youngsters started to make unforced errors, and the experienced heads of Mavericks continued to link up well in and around the circle, showing patience even when the Lightning defence did resist. By the end of the third quarter, Mavericks had again extended their lead, to 25-43.
Again, the final quarter saw more changes as Murphy this time attempted to change the attack, as well as the defence, to inspire Lightning to do more with their possession. Talissa Haynes was introduced at wing defence with Moutang moved up court to wing attack, with Murphy perhaps hoping her energy and speed would inspire the Lightning attack. Haynes made an early impact, intercepting a Mavericks pass, enabling Lightning to grab an early goal. However, the final quarter saw an injury to Lightning player Sarah Jane O’Sullivan at centre, and she had to be replaced by Katie Rose, who had herself only just been taken off. The energy Lightning started with was short lived as the quarter time change around in the Mavericks defence, including the introduction of Naomi Stenhouse at wing defence, kept Lightning to score only five goals in the final quarter, making the final score 25-43.
Despite some key interceptions in defence, and some periods of superb play, Lightning lost out in the end to the more experienced Mavericks side. They showed decisiveness on the ball and some neat link up play in centre court and when passing into the shooters, something of which coach Murphy said Lightning were lacking.
“We had enough of the possession today to have at least made the scoreline closer. We made some good interceptions in, but when we won the ball, we often struggled to know what to do next. We needed someone to take initiative and come forward to take the ball through the court. It’s disappointing to lose but there were lots of positives to take from the game.”
Player of the match Layla Guscoth’s reaction echoed that of her coach, “I was disappointed with the final score, as we played well in patches. However, if we want to succeed, we need to become more consistent throughout the game”.
Lightning will be looking to quickly erase the memories of today’s loss in their next home game, this time being played at the Walsall campus next Saturday 6 January. For more info or tickets, visit www.loughboroughlightning.co.uk.
Report by Kelly Somers
