A dominant and controlled performance by Loughborough Lightning saw them comfortably beat university rivals, Leeds Carnegie, 60-45 in the Fiat Netball Superleague.

A lively crowd witnessed Lightning’s third home win in a row at the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall, and a second victory in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Many of the players recently featured in the British University Championships Final, which Loughborough University won against Leeds Metropolitan, 68-37.

Lightning expected a tough match with many of the Leeds players looking to avenge the defeat. But Olivia Murphy’s team were full of confidence going into the game, following their season defining victory over Superleague champions, Team Bath.

Murphy was able to name an unchanged starting line up and Lightning raced out of the blocks with Sarah Jane O’Sullivan setting up a Becky James goal to take the score to 4-1. Goal Keeper, Afrika Morris, was playing against her former team mates and made some vital blocks.

Jo Harten found her range, scoring freely alongside James, who was 100% accurate in the quarter and moved the score on to 10-5.

Leeds fought back with three unanswered points before a great interception by Morris set up Harten to stretch Lightning’s lead to five as they ended 16-11 up at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started with a quick succession of points, with Leeds’ Jo Walker matching Harten and James. Leeds pulled back the deficit to 2 points, before a key interception by Masego Motaung at Wing Defence set up Harten to make it 23-20.

Resolute defending by Emma Bliss and Morris pressured Leeds into a number of mistakes and Lightning went on a nine point run, stretching their lead to 11 with a half-time score 33-24.

In the third quarter, Lightning brought on Lianne Badmin at Goal Shooter, with Harten moving to Goal Attack for James. Badmin immediately found her range in front of goal. Leeds managed to reduce the arrears down to eight, but Murphy became more influential, setting up opportunities for Badmin and Harten to extend the lead back to 11.

Murphy went on to show all of her experience and composure to create more chances for Harten and Badmin. Another great steal from Motaung set up Harten once more for Lightning to move into a 15 point lead. At the end of the third quarter the score was 49-34.

Sophia Candappa came on at centre for O’Sullivan at the start of the fourth and immediately linked up well with Murphy, feeding Harten in the circle who scored to take Lightning over 50 points.

A spirited reply by Leeds narrowed the deficit before Harten and Badmin, both set up by the excellent Murphy, stretched lead to 15.

As the clock ticked down a Morris block set up a flowing Lightning move that was finished off by a superb long range effort from Harten to make the finals score; Lightning 60 – 45 Leeds.

The win lifts Lightning to fifth place in the table and keeps them in the hunt for a top four play-off place.

Coach, Olivia Murphy, said: “I’m very pleased that we have built on the victory against Bath with this performance. It was a good to be able to change the shooting circle and still maintain our impact. Another positive was the composure the players maintained when Leeds pressed us.”

Lightning’s next home game at the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall against Team Northumbria starts at 7.30pm on April 14th.

Tickets are £1. Full details are available at www.loughboroughlightning.co.uk.

All photos courtesy of  www.stillsport.com.