Loughborough Lightning defeated Team Bath last Sunday at the Loughborough Netball Centre in the Fiat Superleague, stealing victory in the dying moments of the final quarter to take the game 52-50.

Coach Olivia Murphy named a relatively unchanged team from the one that played Glasgow Wildcats earlier in the week, with Becky James restoring her place in the starting line up.

Emma Bliss and Masego Motaung started at goal defence and wing defence respectively. The most noticeable inclusion in an injury-hit Bath side was that of ex-Lightning player, Katy Rose, at wing attack.

As the game got underway both teams had to work hard when in possession of the ball, with the defences very much on top. Lightning’s Afrika Morris, in particular, asserted her presence on Bath goal shooter Rosie Allison.

It was evident that Bath had done their homework on Lightning captain, Jo Harten. Finding her often double marked, both Sarah Jane O’Sullivan and Olivia Murphy impressed. As the quarter time whistle went, Lightning had the edge, with a 12-11 lead.

Lightning started the second quarter strongly, scoring four unanswered goals. However, with the scoreboard reaching 17-12, Lightning’s shooting started to let them down as Bath forced them away from the circle edge.

Despite patient build up play, with James often being forced to collect the ball from the edge of the final quarter, Bath pulled the score back to 17-17. As the visitors started to find gaps in the Lightning defence, the momentum changed in Bath’s favour. At half time, the whistle blew with the scoreboard reading 25-22 to Bath.

Murphy and matchday coach Rose Port made several changes at the start of the second quarter. In an attempt to bolster the defence, youngster Nicola Caunt came on at goal defence, as Bliss moved to goal keeper to replace Morris.

For the third quarter in a row, Lightning started the quicker of the two teams, as Harten and James found space and James’ long range shooting impressed.

As the third quarter drew to a close, the scores were locked at 37-37. Bath converted the first centre pass of the third. However, Lightning again managed to counter with a goal themselves. Lightning then started to force the Bath centre court into crucial mistakes and took a Lightning 45-44 lead.

With just over a minute remaining, Olivia Murphy fittingly made the interception to set up a goal that put Lightning 50-49 up. James then made a crucial interception before converting to make the score 51-49.

Coach Murphy, again a standout performer for Lightning, said: “I’m obviously very pleased with the victory today. That team needed some belief and hopefully that result will give us the belief we have been waiting for.

“It was all about the patience taking the ball to goal, no matter how many passes it took, and grinding out the goals and then taking the odd turnover. Emma bliss took two vital turnovers in the final quarter, and we were so assured taking the ball to the goal, as we knew that Jo would put it in the net.

“It’s the first time we have actually had a connection all the way through the court and put together a full 60 minutes of netball.”

For tickets for Lightning’s game next Monday 4th April against Leeds Carnegie, please visit www.loughboroughlightning.com.