Nottingham Forest Netball took to the court with determination in their latest clash against a sharp and in-form London Mavericks side. Despite flashes of brilliance and moments of momentum, it was the Mavericks who ultimately pulled away to claim a 67–56 victory.
First Quarter
The Mavericks opened with the centre pass, but Forest’s Hannah Leighton wasted no time stamping her authority on the game, executing a spectacular leap to intercept the first play. Despite the promising start, Forest found it difficult to convert those turnovers into goals, struggling to settle into an attacking rhythm.
The Mavericks’ attacking end proved tough to contain, with Forest working hard to apply pressure. Unforced errors in Forest’s attacking third, paired with strong defensive play from the Mavericks, meant Forest couldn’t make the most of their centre pass opportunities.
As the quarter progressed, Mavericks shooter landed the first super shot of the game, extending the gap. Forest responded well, taking advantage of their own super shot windows, with Leighton again standing out defensively with another crucial interception. Still, the first quarter ended with Forest trailing 18–12.
Second Quarter
Forest opened the second quarter with intent, converting a smooth attacking play from the centre pass into an early goal. The team found renewed energy, delivering crisp, quick transitions into the circle, and showing real attacking promise.
However, the Mavericks remained composed, capitalising on key interceptions in the Forest circle. Despite Forest’s efforts to claw back the deficit using the super shot period, a few missed opportunities kept the scoreline in the Mavericks’ favour.
While Forest displayed stronger attacking play and resilience, their inability to consistently find their shooters and the Mavericks’ suffocating defensive pressure meant they couldn’t fully close the gap. The first half ended with the Mavericks extending their lead to 35–27.
Third Quarter
The third quarter brought a shift in momentum. Maverick’s GK disrupted the attacking flow between Rolene Streutker, Rhea Dixon, and the Forest feeders early on. But Forest’s defence began to shine, with Jayda Pechova making some vital interceptions to swing possession.
A timeout just three minutes in allowed Forest to reset, and they came back with fire. The energy in the arena shifted as the Forest fans roared behind our team. That boost translated into performance, with Forest turning up the pressure defensively and converting crucial turnovers.
Streutker closed the quarter with a brilliant super shot, and Forest stormed back to further close the gap to the Mavericks across the 15 minutes. They ended the quarter just two points behind, trailing 47–45, setting up an electric final term.
Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter saw Forest continue to apply pressure, determined to keep within touching distance. Iona Christian showed incredible flair with a spectacular ball catch and return into the circle, but a footwork call on Streutker handed possession back to the Mavericks.
Defensively, Forest showed no signs of backing down – Natasha Pavelin’s aggressive intercept brought the crowd to their feet, injecting further belief into our side. Unfortunately, missed shots in the dying minutes proved costly, and the Mavericks capitalised with clinical finishing.
Despite Forest’s valiant efforts and third-quarter dominance, the Mavericks’ consistency and composure saw them pull away in the final moments to secure the 67–56 win.