Forest seal play-off spot with Lightning win

Nottingham Forest reached the Netball Super League play-offs for the first time with a 76-65 victory over leaders Loughborough Lightning.

Fourth-placed Forest ensured they couldn't be overtaken by the league's chasing pack, extending a 39-35 half-time lead to condemn Lightning to just their second defeat of the season.

Rolene Streutker top-scored for Forest with 42 goals, while goalkeeper Jayda Pechova starred at the other end of the court.

"We had a really good performance last week and we just built on that. We put it all out there," player of the match Pechova told BBC Sport.

"I feel like I really worked hard this year and it's paying off. It being our second year as a squad and we've come this far, it's crazy. We're top four and our performance and how we've gelled as a squad is incredible."

Nottingham Forest coach Chelsea Pitman added that she felt emotional watching her side reach the post-season in their second season of existence.

"We spoke about the importance of this game, the opportunity to getting to the semi-finals no matter what happens with other teams," said Pitman.

"And for them to go out there and put out a consistent four quarters – still room for improvement – I'm a happy coach."

In Friday's other match, AO Manchester Thunder won 82-66 at NIC Leeds Rhinos to knock Lightning off the top of the standings.

Thunder now lead the league on goal difference, with both teams having won 10 games and lost two.

Eleanor Cardwell and Sophie Fawns scored 33 and 19 goals respectively for Thunder, while Paige Reed's 24 was the top score for Rhinos, who have never beaten their cross-Pennine rivals.

Both London Mavericks and LexisNexis Dragons had their chances of reaching the play-offs ended by Forest's victory.

Dragons played bottom club Birmingham Panthers on Saturday and emerged 62-50 winners.

Georgia Rowe scored 31 goals as Dragons inflicted an 11th defeat of the season on the Panthers.

On Sunday, third-placed London Pulse beat derby rivals Mavericks 55-49 to move to 30 points, which is just a point behind Thunder and Lightning.

Liv Tchine scored 31 goals for Pulse as they secured their 10th win of the season.