Forest beat Mavericks to boost play-off hopes

Nottingham Forest took a big step toward securing their place in the Netball Super League play-offs with a crucial 57-49 win over London Mavericks.

In a cagey, error-strewn encounter, the fourth-placed hosts were the first to hit their stride and held a 28-21 half-time lead at the Motorpoint Arena.

A regenerated Mavericks won the third quarter and drew level in the fourth, before Forest scored highly in the closing stages to claim a convincing success, with Rolene Streutker claiming 26 goals.

The result made Forest comfortable in their control of the race for one of the four play-off spots, after narrowly missing out with a fifth-placed finish on their 2025 NSL debut.

Sixth-placed Mavericks could yet snatch Forest's place if they win all their last three games and their rivals lose theirs against the league's top three sides. LexisNexis Dragons, who are fifth in the table, are also still mathematically in the hunt.

But Forest goal defence Tash Pavelin, who was named player of the match, remained confident as she told BBC Sport: "We felt the pressure going into it.

"Sometimes we play better in those pressure moments."

AO Manchester Thunder's play-off place was confirmed by Mavericks' loss, and Karen Greig's side celebrated with a statement 64-52 win over reigning champions London Pulse.

With a stunning team performance, a dominant Thunder leapfrogged Pulse into second place.

"We were written off very early by a lot of people in this season," said 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 competition.

"Yes, definitely," said the two-time champion with Loughborough Lightning. "After today's performance, what can I say?"

Thunder fulfilled their home fixture in a double-header at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool where LexisNexis Dragons were also hosts, 200 miles from their usual home venue in Cardiff.

The Dragons kept their play-off hopes alive with a 68-62 win over a NIC Leeds Rhinos side who haven't won since the opening round.

Rhinos started slowly but led 18-16 after the first quarter, before the lead changed hands and Dragons took a narrow 36-35 advantage into the half-time break.

The sides tied the third quarter 17-17 before Dragons pulled away in the last, with Georgia Rowe scoring 45 goals in the match.

"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 100% record was ended by Pulse last weekend, are three points clear of second-placed Thunder.

Bottom side Panthers made a quick start, leading at the end of the first two quarters to take a two-point advantage into half-time.

But Lightning hit back after the break and were four goals ahead at the start of the fourth quarter, before sealing victory with a dominant display in the final 15 minutes of the round 11 match.

Panthers' Betsy Creak was top scorer with 35 goals, adding four rebounds in the match played at Coventry Skydome, while Lightning shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph scored 33 and team-mate Ella Clark was named player of the match.

Wallace-Joseph, 32, is the NSL's top scorer this season with 339 goals along with Forest's Streutker.

Lightning are next in action against fourth-placed Nottingham Forest on 15 May - a match you can watch live on the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer.

BBC Sport will show one game per week during the regular season.

These are the games you can watch live on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer (UK only, all times BST):

15 May: Loughborough Lightning v Nottingham Forest (19:00)

24 May: London Pulse v Dragons (17:00)