SEVERN Stars secured a first-ever Netball Super League play-off spot with a 61-56 win against Leeds Rhinos.
After Stars discovered they were not part of the NSL’s relaunch plans, the club responded by reaching the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in their history.
And Stars eventually pulled clear of the Rhinos in the last five minutes of the game to seal a top-four finish in their final season as a club.
Stars went into the match knowing they needed just a single point at the University of Huddersfield to secure a semi-final spot.
And the visitors eventually saw off a resurgent Rhinos side with a decisive third quarter after the teams went in level at half time.
Both side’s shooters, Joyce Mvula and Sigi Burger, shone in the circle, putting up 40 and 49 goals respectively with Stars’ Burger ending with an impressive 96 per cent accuracy.
Burger battled relentlessly against Rhinos’ defensive circle of Geva Mentor and Zoe Davies, who earned six and seven deflections each, while Stars’ Ella Powell-Davies produced four gains.
Stars play their final-ever home match against Team Bath on Friday, June 7 with the game to begin at 7.30pm at the University of Worcester Arena.
