Jump to main content
London Pulse

{{ event.score[0] }} - {{ event.score[1] }}

Manchester Thunder

Match Details

23rd May 2022
Round 19
Copper Box Arena
Stats Report

Match Results

Watch On: Broadcaster Logo

{{ title }}
{{ team.teamName }}
{{ result }}

First Centre Pass

Laura Malcolm
Laura Malcolm Manchester Thunder View profile

Team Stats

{{ statTeamA > 0 ? statTeamA : '0' }}

{{ getStatTitle(key).description }}

{{ getTeamPlayersB[0][key] ? getTeamPlayersB[0][key] : '0' }}

Performance Stats

{{ team.name }}
Player Position {{ getTooltip(heading).title }}
Starters
{{ player.player ? player.player.position : `NA` }} {{ outputValue(val) }}
{{ player.player ? player.player.position : `NA` }} {{ outputValue(val) }}
Total {{ outputValue(val) }}
Loading league table data

Performance Stats

{{ team.name }}
Player Position {{ getTooltip(heading).title }}
Starters
{{ player.player ? player.player.position : `NA` }} {{ outputValue(val) }}
{{ player.player ? player.player.position : `NA` }} {{ outputValue(val) }}
Total {{ outputValue(val) }}
Loading league table data

Performance Stats

{{ team.name }}
Player Position {{ getTooltip(heading).title }}
Starters
{{ player.player ? player.player.position : `NA` }} {{ outputValue(val) }}
{{ player.player ? player.player.position : `NA` }} {{ outputValue(val) }}
Total {{ outputValue(val) }}
Loading league table data
Natalie Metcalf was brought in during the 2022 signing window

Natalie Metcalf was one of the signings of the 2022 window. (Image: Touchlinepics)

Manchester Thunder pulled off a stunning comeback to beat London Pulse 56-50 and remain unbeaten in the Vitality Netball Superleague.

The league leaders trailed by five goals going into the final quarter before Joyce Mvula and Eleanor Cardwell recaptured their electric goal-scoring form to steal the win.

Pulse had to settle for the loss at the Copper Box Arena but put in a performance that will give them confidence when they return to the same venue for the Grand Finals on 3 June.

A Funmi Fadoju intercept set the tone early on before Joyce Mvula missed a shot on goal which set Pulse up to move ahead.

Mvula made amends to bring the scores level at 4-4 only for more sloppy passing to let Pulse pull away into a three-goal lead.

Thunder rang the changes bringing on Caroline O’Hanlon for Yasmin Roebuck and Lois Pearson for Mvula with three other positional changes.

Their impact was immediate as the league leaders closed out the first quarter with four goals to trail 11-10.

With the first score of the second quarter, Thunder moved back level but a wayward pass from Nat Metcalf saw Pulse take the lead once again, scoring five unanswered points.

Fadoju again masterfully intercepted setting up Pulse to open the biggest lead of the game at 20-14.

Eleanor Cardwell was calm under pressure to cut the gap to three but matters got worse for Thunder as Shadine van der Merwe limped off to be replaced by Emma Roscoe.

Pulse were again able to stretch the lead and the half-time hooter sounded too soon for Thunder to build their comeback as they ended the first half 26-21 down.

The third quarter began with both sides trading goals with Manchester Thunder only able to reduce the deficit to two with half of the third quarter already gone.

London Pulse goalkeeper Lindsay Feable stretched her tall frame to deny an attacking Thunder pass and set up Pulse to move four ahead, an advantage Berri Neil would extend to 41-36 with a buzzer-beater.

With Mvula back on at goalshooter, Thunder were again able to cut the gap to two, Cardwell setting up Mvula from the centre third before Mvula returned the favour with a no-look pass to reduce Pulse's lead to one.

With eight minutes left, the two teams were back to all square as the Copper Box became a cauldron of noise as the home fans willed Pulse home.

Thunder moved ahead for the first time since the second quarter but Mvula missed a chance to hammer home the lead until Roebuck displayed incredible balance to intercept and keep the ball in play to stop Pulse from making them pay.

The table-toppers were then ruthless, extending their lead to ensure their push for an invincible regular season goes down to the final game.

The Gilbert Player of the Match was Manchester Thunder goal attack Eleanor Cardwell.

Follow @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest Vitality Netball Superleague news.

Tickets for the Grand Final can be found HERE.