Netball Super League: Champions London Pulse defeat bottom club Birmingham Panthers

Defending champions London Pulse completed a third straight win as they beat the Birmingham Panthers 78-45 in the Netball Super League – the biggest margin of victory of the season so far.

As a result of the match at the Copper Box Stadium, the Pulse rose to second place in the standings, leapfrogging the Manchester Thunder who lost 68-58 to the leaders Loughborough Lightning.

The Pulse took control early on the winless Panthers, leading 24-8 by the end of the first quarter and 42-18 at the midway point. It was a brutal effort against a team that has lost all their games so far by at least 10 points.

“We needed a game like this. We all came together, we knew exactly what we had to do. We are really proud of ourselves,” Funmi Fadojo, the Pulse player who won the match, told BBC Sport.

“It was very important for us to show that we are not a one-dimensional team, we have different groups and different structures and they are doing their job. That gave us confidence heading into the second half of the season.”

Pauls faces the London Mavericks in a derby match in the next round, marking the midway point of the regular season.

Coach Sue Bird said Saturday’s win would help the Pulse going forward, as the first-time champions look to win again.

“Building on what we’ve done, increasing the intensity of everything we do, he’s just become a real threat to play against,” Bird said as she discussed her plan for the rest of the season.

“There were certain games where we had defense or attack but maybe not everyone was together, but when it comes together like today, we become a very dangerous team.

“We’ve adjusted some things in training and the girls have handled that well this week. I know that when we win the ball, that’s our identity, and once we cook, we’ll be OK.”

The Undefeated Lightning recorded their sixth straight win at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, with Samantha Wallace-Joseph top-scoring with 26 goals against the Thunder.

The defeat means the Thunder drop to third place, but they remain at the top Nottingham Forest Who fell with a 62-57 loss to Dragon In the first game of a doubleheader in Nottingham.

Rolene Stroutker, Forest’s South African player, led the scoring in that match with 27 goals, but that was not enough to lead her team to victory.

London Mavericks face Leeds Rhinos In the evening match on Saturday (19:00 GMT).