GOAL attack Eleanor Cardwell said she was proud of her Severn Stars side despite a 60-45 defeat to Manchester Thunder in their final Vitality Netball Superleague game of the season.
A much-improved Stars shocked their high-flying hosts with a stunning first-quarter performance, and they ended the opening 15 minutes with a four-point advantage at the Manchester Thunderdome.
But a poor second quarter, in which the visitors were limited to just seven goals, meant their third-placed hosts overturn the deficit and go on to dominate the game, winning 60-45.
“We came out and stormed into the lead in the first quarter, but it’s just really unfortunate that they fought back and we didn’t have any sort of reaction to that,” Cardwell said.
Stars started the game confidently, moving the ball freely around the attacking third with shooting duo Yasmin Hodge-England and Cardwell helping the team to an early 8-4 advantage.
Goal keeper Rachel Sweet helped to thwart a series of Thunder attacks, before further impressive attacking play allowed Hodge-England and Cardwell combine to increase Stars’ lead to 10-5 midway through the opening quarter.
Thunder eventually found their rhythm in the final minutes of the quarter, edging the score back to within just two points.
But Stars’ wing attack Iona Darroch’s flying interception and acrobatic pass enabled Cardwell to net from distance to allow the visitors to end the quarter 18-14 ahead.
Thunder came out flying in the second quarter, and levelled the game at 18-18 after just three minutes of the restart.
A much-improved defensive performance from the hosts made it difficult for an increasingly frustrated Cardwell and Hodge-England to find any room in the attacking third and Stars scored once in the first 11 minutes of the quarter.
Stars improved towards the end of the quarter to keep the hosts’ advantage down to just four points at 29-25 at half time.
Thunder threatened to run away with the game, with attacking pair Joyce Mvula and Kathryn Turner in fine form as the hosts built a nine-point lead.
But Stars rallied, with clever interplay from former Thunder centre Laura Malcolm and Darroch helping Stars to claw themselves back to within five points.
But Thunder remained firmly in control, ending the quarter with a commanding 46-37 lead before building an unassailable 11-point lead midway through the final period.
And as the Stars tired, Liana Leota’s exceptional link-up play allowing a buoyant Thunder to further increase their advantage and secure victory.
The win sends the Manchester side into the Vitality Netball Superleague finals weekend in Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday.