Lightning hit the ground running, racing to a 10-goal lead within the first quarter, and never looked back. They were sharp and clinical in attack from the first centre pass, while their defensive unit applied relentless pressure, forcing Thunder into early errors.
Ella Clark led the way in the shooting circle, growing in confidence as the game continued. She was composed under the post and had several crowd-pleasing super shots, keeping Thunder’s defenders under constant pressure.
At the other end, Alice Harvey, Jodie Gibson, and Shadine van der Merwe were outstanding, disrupting Thunder’s attacking play and turning over ball after ball. The defensive trio made it difficult for Thunder to find any rhythm, with Lightning taking full advantage to stretch their lead throughout the match.
It was a standout performance from Shadine van der Merwe, who was named Player of the Match for her relentless work across all four quarters — picking off crucial intercepts and consistently shutting down Thunder’s attacking options.
Speaking after the final whistle, head coach Vic Burgess was full of praise for her side:
“We asked the girls to hit the ground running and maintain intensity for the full 60 minutes — and they absolutely delivered. To put in a performance like that against a team like Thunder really shows what we’re capable of.”
With a confident first win under their belt, Lightning now turns their focus to their first home game against London Pulse on the 22nd of March, looking to build momentum as they push for a strong start to the season.