England-based T&T goal-shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph and two-time defending champions Loughborough Lightning will have another shot at securing a spot in the Netball Super League (NSL) Grand Final at the Copper Box Arena in London, Arena.
This was after Wallace-Joseph, 31, and the Loughborough Lightning, who have won three of the past four Grand Finals, went under to London Pulse in a thrilling 50-49 semifinal after leading 29-21 at the half-time interval at the same venue on Friday.
The London Pulse, who secured the top spot at the end of the NSL regular season with a 12-2 record and 37 points, to finish ahead of Lightning (10-4) with 32 points, had trailed 29-21 at half-time.
The Lightning got off to a quick start and led 15-7 at the end of the first quarter before going in at the half-time interval with an eight-goal lead 29-21.
At the start of the third quarter, the London Pulse seized the upper hand as they battled back into the contest at the Copper Box and tied up the scores at 35-35 after a dominant 14-6 period highlighted by solid defence.
For the London Pulse Olivia Tchine's clinical scoring was key to their revival as he first drew them level before she put them in the lead towards the end of the third quarter, only for the Lightning to even the match to set up an interesting final 15 minutes.
With five minutes left in the contest, Wallace-Joseph and her teammates led 43-41, but Tchine then held her nerve in the circle with a trio of decisive super shots in the final five minutes to edge her team ahead,
And despite Wallace-Joseph's super shot at the death, to end with 23 goals, it was not enough to prevent Pulse taking victory and booking their place in the Grand Final on July 6.
Berri Neil added two goals for Lightning while Tchine had a team-high 22 goals for Pulse, and Nichole Breedt, five in the win.
Also on Friday, Manchester Thunder eased to a 79-49 victory over London Mavericks to secure a meeting with Lightning in next weekend's preliminary final.
Goal Attack Elmere van der Berg led the way in a dominant display for Thunder with 46 goals while goal shooter Paige Reed weighed in with eight.
Thunder had led 24-13 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back despite the best efforts of Emily Andrew, who finished with 17 goals for the Mavericks.
The preliminary final will take place on June 29 at the Sir David Wallace Arena against Manchester Thunder with the winners to advance to the Grand Final to face Pulse on July 6.
This is Wallace-Joseph’s second stint in the NSL, where she made her debut back in 2016 with Hertfordshire Mavericks before making the switch to New South Wales in Australia a year later and winning three titles. She ended the regular season with 272 goals.
