by By James Reid, Sportsbeat
Consistence can be difficult, but that is exactly what Vic Burgess wants to produce their Loughborough Lightning Side when they compete against Manchester Thunder on Sunday in the provisional of Netball Super League.
Lightning lost almost 50-49 against London Pulse in the big semi-finals.
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There will be a lot of reason to encourage Burgess to get into the winner-tiles all competition on Sunday after a season that corsets by some surprising defeats.
“You learn a lot by losing, but there are also players who show what they are capable of,” she said.
“These games [we lost] Goods against teams that we should have beaten. The players want to be better to be better and cut them more consistently.
“Hopefully this week we are in a good position in which we can take over and learn how we did not want or need it as we wanted or needed.”
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Lightning lost twice against neighbors Nottingham Forest in the regular season and completed her league campaign with defeat against Birmingham Panthers.
After an early humiliation from London Pulse, it looked up to four defeats up to four before Burgess demanded a certain revenge with a win in the copper box in May.
The one-point deficit in the big semi-finals showed that there was little between the sides, and the fine edges that play in co-tinker.
For Burgess it depends on a word.
“The first time losing the forest was a clear shift for us a more victorious way,” she considered.
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“When we were exposed to them the second time, we probably found it more frustrating than it was a similar result, but it was about consistency in all four quarters for us.
“Compared to previous years, the consistency throughout the season was more of a challenge with the new rules, the Super Shot.
“There was definitely a journey of navigating to maintain consistent services and ensure that we stay with the gaming plan in all of our games.”
Lightning is aimed at the story this season and the victory in the Grand Final in the O2 Arena on July 6th would make it the first team that won the Netball Super League for three years in a row.
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With an unprecedented hat trick of titles, Burgess hopes that the know-how of your site can come to the fore.
“We have important players who can really use their experiences with their travels before they come here,” she said.
“You can share this with the rest of the squad and concentrate the people. We can take care of each other and concentrate everyone on the task in the hand.”
The process will be NAT Panagarry, who led lightning to her last two Grand Final Triumph.
It is part of a core group alongside Beth Cobden, Hannah Joseph and Ella Clark, who were present for all three Super League titles of the club at Lightning.
Panagarry is part of a core squad that has been at Loughborough Lightning for several seasons.
(Ben Lumley)
“This season we really tried to ignore the outer noise and trust our process,” said Panagarry.
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“At the beginning of the season we knew that it would be built a bit gradually. We had some new players and only the middle square remained the same and had this familiarity.
“You start to see how the shooting circle is now clicking with Sammy [Wallace-Joseph]Ella and Berri [Neil]. “”
While Burgess put the defeats against Forest, Panagarry believes that the defeat against Pulse in March was the early 77-51 defeat to ensure that the lightning came back on the right track.
“We discussed at the beginning of the season that they had to win when it is important,” she added.
“Sometimes these losses really give a kick and a little training. They have honest chats about how they want to play and what the team looks like.
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“The pulse loss in this second game was huge, many of us shaken. There are four or five of us who have not lost this type of goal line for a long time.
“It was definitely a reality check and what we needed. It’s about seeing the right time and winning the final when it is important.”
The victory against Thunder would book a remaining with Pulse in the first Grand Final, which takes place in the O2 arena.
For Panagarry, reaching such an iconic event location would bring home how far the sport has come since she played in the Netball Super League.
“There were points where I played super League and there were 100 people in the crowd,” she recalled.
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“To go some now, who have 3-4,000, is a big show. It doesn’t go unnoticed. I guess every time I am out of these big moments.
“Everyone was talking about the O2 this season to say that they did it and were there for the first time. It is definitely a motivator for me. We would like to be there, we will give everything we can.”
The NSL Grand Final will take place on July 6th for the first time in O2. Get your tickets Experience live elite netball
