Nottingham Forest took a significant step toward securing a Netball Super League play-off spot after a hard-fought 57-49 win over London Mavericks.
In a tense and error-filled match, the fourth-placed hosts found their rhythm early and led 28-21 at halftime at the Motorpoint Arena. A resurgent Mavericks won the third quarter and leveled the scores in the fourth, but Forest pulled away in the closing stages for a convincing victory, with Rolene Streutker netting 26 goals.
The result gave Forest a firm grip on one of the four play-off places, after narrowly missing out with a fifth-place finish in their debut 2025 season. Sixth-placed Mavericks could still overtake Forest if they win all three remaining games and Forest lose to the league’s top three sides. Fifth-placed LexisNexis Dragons also remain mathematically in contention.
Forest goal defence Tash Pavelin, named player of the match, told BBC Sport: “We felt the pressure going into it. Sometimes we play better in those pressure moments.”
Meanwhile, AO Manchester Thunder secured their play-off spot after the Mavericks loss, celebrating with a dominant 64-52 win over reigning champions London Pulse. A superb team performance saw Thunder leapfrog Pulse into second place.
“We were written off very early by a lot of people this season,” said Thunder coach Karen Greig. “We’ve really started to build over these last few rounds and prove what we’re capable of.”
Thunder goal defence Nicola Smith, who has made seven interceptions in her last nine games, believes her side can win the title. “Yes, definitely,” said the two-time champion with Loughborough Lightning. “After today’s performance, what can I say?”
Thunder played their home fixture in a double-header at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, where LexisNexis Dragons also hosted, 200 miles from their Cardiff base.
The Dragons kept their play-off hopes alive with a 68-62 win over NIC Leeds Rhinos, who have not won since the opening round. Rhinos started slowly but led 18-16 after the first quarter. The lead changed hands, and Dragons took a 36-35 halftime advantage. The teams tied the third quarter 17-17 before Dragons pulled away in the final period, with Georgia Rowe scoring 45 goals.
“I don’t think we ever felt comfortable,” said Dragons goal keeper Leah Middleton. “But we talk about having a winning mentality and I think the group has really grown in that this season.”
Leaders Loughborough Lightning returned to winning ways on Friday with a hard-fought 76-60 victory over Birmingham Panthers. Lightning, whose perfect record was ended by Pulse last weekend, now sit three points clear of second-placed Thunder.
Bottom-side Panthers started strongly, leading after the first two quarters to take a two-point halftime advantage. But Lightning fought back after the break and led by four goals at the start of the fourth quarter, sealing victory with a dominant final 15 minutes.
Panthers’ Betsy Creak was top scorer with 35 goals and four rebounds, while Lightning shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph scored 33. Ella Clark was named player of the match. Wallace-Joseph, 32, remains the NSL’s top scorer this season.
