London Pulse’s superb start to the Netball Super League season continued with a hard-fought 61-56 victory over Manchester Thunder.
Pulse’s win was their sixth straight victory in as many games and puts them six points clear of second-placed Thunder in the standings.
Olivia Tchine’s prowess at goal shooter proved key as she scored 37 goals for Pulse, which took her tally to 223 for the season.
Thunder counterpart Elmere van der Berg managed 16 by comparison as Pulse defended impressively against the South African.
Pulse, who joined NSL in 2019, felt their way into the contest and had a narrow 29-26 lead at the half-time interval.
At one point Pulse established a seven-point cushion in the third quarter but Thunder finished it strongly and reduced the deficit to three at 46-43.
The home side’s work-rate and clinical finishing ultimately proved the difference at London’s Copper Box Arena, though, as they closed out the match.
With just under a minute remaining Tchine twice kept her composure and on this occasion Thunder had no answer.
