London Pulse won their first ever Netball Super League (NSL) Grand Final this weekend at the O2 Arena, London, live and on demand for the international netball family on NetballPass.
Pulse, who finished top of the ladder this season and won the pre-season Super Cup, faced defending Champions Loughborough Lightning in front of the biggest NSL Grand Final crowd ever.
An end-to-end frantic start to the game made it hard to see who was going to come out on top, but once Pulse found their rhythm there was no stopping them.
England Rose Funmi Fadoju lead the Pulse defensive end as she has all season, making eight deflections, three interceptions and eight gains – a performance she was later awarded Player of the Match for.
The defensive work of Fadoju, and fellow international and domestic league teammates, Halimat Adoi and Zara Everitt, knocked Lightning and broke down their attacking flow which Pulse were able to capitalise on ensuring they always kept their opposition at arm’s length.
There were later two Everitt’s on court for a period of time, as Zara’s sister, Darcey Everitt replaced an injured Adio in defence – despite the forced change, Pulse still did not miss a beat.
Lightning on the other hand had their lowest scoring game of the season, scoring just 45 goals to Pulses 53.
Pulse became the 7th different team to be crowned NSL Champions, and the first of the new era.
One of their players also broke a record of her own, with the introduction of Gracie Smith as a substitute in the match making her the youngest ever player, aged just 16, to feature in a NSL Grand Final.
You can catch up on the Grand Final on NetballPass, here. *