Pulse beat Panthers to go top and reach semis

Olivia Tchine top-scored as London Pulse bounced back from their defeat by Loughborough Lightning to beat Birmingham Panthers
- Published
London Pulse overcame Birmingham Panthers on Sunday to move back to the top of the Netball Super League standings and secure a top-four finish.
Pulse goal shooter Olivia Tchine top-scored with 32 as the hosts claimed a 63-58 victory at Copper Box Arena.
Pulse ed Loughborough Lightning in reaching the last four after the defending champions comfortably beat Cardiff Dragons on Saturday to briefly climb to the summit.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Manchester Thunder produced a clinical away performance to beat Leeds Rhinos 69-55 and maintain their own bid to reach the play-offs.
Thunder goal attack Elmere van der Berg top-scored with 42 as the visitors strengthened their grip on third place in the standings.
On Saturday, Lightning led Dragons from early in the first quarter and gradually extended their advantage to complete a comfortable 71-54 victory at Utilita Arena.
Leading 35-28 at half-time, Lightning never looked like letting that lead slip in a clinical display that saw them record a 93% shooting success, missing just four shots all game.
Goal shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph top-scored for the visitors with 32 goals, while Dragons' Georgia Rowe had 35 goals in a losing cause.
Elsewhere on Saturday, London Mavericks came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 57-48 at Hertfordshire Sports Village.
Forest were 29-23 ahead at half-time but the Mavericks made a quick start to the third quarter and quickly got themselves on top.
Australian Emily Andrew continued her fine debut NSL season with 42 goals as Mavericks kept themselves in front to secure a seventh win of the campaign.
Results
Saturday, 24 May
London Mavericks 57-48 Nottingham Forest
Cardiff Dragons 54-71 Loughborough Lightning
Sunday, 25 May
Leeds Rhinos 55-69 Manchester Thunder
London Pulse 63-58 Birmingham Panthers
Fixtures
(times all BST)
Friday, 30 May
Manchester Thunder v Cardiff Dragons (19:30)
Saturday, 31 May
Loughborough Lightning v Nottingham Forest (16:00)
Sunday, 1 June
London Pulse v Leeds Rhinos (18:00)
Birmingham Panthers v London Mavericks (18:00 - watch live on BBC Sport)