NETBALL – Severn Stars make history after beating Leeds to secure play-off place

SEVERN Stars secured their first place in the Netball Super League play-offs with a 61-56 win against Leeds Rhinos.

After the Stars discovered they were not part of the NSL’s revival plans, the club responded by reaching the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in their history.

And finally, the Stars pulled away from the Rhinos in the last five minutes of the game to seal a top-four finish in their final season as a club.

Stars went into the match knowing they needed just one point at Huddersfield University to secure a place in the semi-finals.

And the visitors eventually defeated a resurgent Rhinos side with a decisive third quarter after the teams were level at half-time.

Both teams’ shooters, Joyce Mvula and Sigi Burger, shone in the circle, scoring 40 and 49 goals respectively, with the Stars’ Burger finishing with an impressive 96% accuracy.

Burger battled relentlessly against the Rhinos’ defensive circle of Geva Mentor and Zoe Davies, who claimed six and seven clearances each, while Stars’ Ella Powell-Davies produced four wins.

The Stars play their final home game against Bath on Friday 7th June, kicking off at 7.30pm at the University of Worcester Arena.