Netball Super League | Team spirit guides Loughborough Lightning to the title, says Dixon

Credit: Getty Sport and Netball Super League

Rhea Dixon lauded Loughborough Lightning’s impeccable team spirit as they beat Manchester Thunder 70-54 in the Netball Super League Grand Final.

As the whistle blew, Lightning knew they had made history by pulling off back-to-back title victories for the first time in the club’s history.

The Resorts World Arena played host to the Grand Final, and a record Finals Day crowd saw both Lightning and Thunder boasting phenomenal support.

Dixon won Player of the Match for her inspired performance at goal attack, beautifully supporting the season’s top goalscorer Mary Cholhok.

“I’ve not won a Player of the Match all season so it’s nice to get one today,” Dixon said. “But it’s down to the hard work of everyone around me and the combinations we’ve built.

“It’s great to get the Player of the Match but obviously the team win is so much better.”

Lightning put out a dominant performance to beat the four-time winners, they opened up an early lead before Thunder predictabily hit back.

The Manchester side could not fight back a second time as Loughborough saw out the win with confidence, while Dixon praised head coach Vic Burgess’ management for getting them over the line on the day when it mattered most.

“Vic’s amazing,” Dixon added. “She’s so consistent and so steady and really gives us what we need as a team, which builds up to winning today.

“She gets to know us all so well and knows how to deliver the game plan. She’s really managed the whole season well – put enough pressure on us when we needed it but also put an arm around us when we needed it.

“The best teams in netball are the ones with the best connections and we really have that. When you’re up or when you’re down, it’s about staying connected and making sure everyone is playing their role and sticking to the plan.

“We really stuck to the game plan today against an amazing Thunder side which is why we really deserved to win.”

Lightning’s game plan saw them play the ball calmly to Dixon and Cholhok in attack while stifling Thunder down the other end.

Every tip from Alice Harvey and lay-up from Cholhok was cheered by the Lightning fans in the record crowd which also played its part in getting Lightning over the line in Birmingham.

“The crowd were incredible, Dixon added. “Thunder are always known for their fans but to hear our fans shouting over them was just amazing.

“We are so grateful to the ones here today and the ones who have been here throughout the season, it means so much.”

In an impressive Lightning team, Dixon has had to fight hard for her place in the starting line-up of the final but played all but five minutes of the game before coming off for Ella Clark to soak up the Grand Final atmosphere herself.

“This season I’ve had some ups and downs in confidence,” she added. “Competing with three other girls in this position has been really good for me.

“But – Oh my gosh, I just can’t explain what it’s like playing alongside Mary. She makes every bad ball look so good and I’m so grateful to be able to play with her.”

Reflecting on Lightning achieving this milestone, Dixon said the team set their sights on this early on.

“We set out at the start of the season to make history and go back-to-back and we’ve done that,” she said.

“We had a target on our back in the league and that’s the pressure we wanted. To be able to push through that and be resilient has been great.

“We’ve got through our ups and downs this season and we pushed it out when it mattered, so we’re just really happy.

“This achievement is incredible for the club. There’s going ton be a lot of change going forward so it’s good to have the success behind the club to be able to attract the best players and coaches and keep them.

“Hopefully there’ll be many more successes for Loughborough Lightning going forward.”

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