Thunder finish top after last-gasp winner against LightningImage source, Harry CollinsImage caption, Australian Sophie Fawns is playing her first Netball Super League season after joining Thunder in 2025ByMichael Emons, BBC Sport journalist and Flora Snelson, BBC Sport journalistPublished29 May 2026Updated 13 minutes agoSophie Fawns scored in the final seconds of the Netball Super League regular season to ensure Ao Manchester Thunder finished top after beating second-placed Loughborough Lightning 68-67.The score was level in the final minute of the game before Fawns scored from a rebound on the stroke of full-time, prompting an eruption of noise from the home crowd at the Manchester Velodrome. Lightning overcame the loss of centre Jess Shaw to injury in the first quarter to hold a four-point lead heading into the final fifteen minutes of their season. But Thunder’s late fightback and thrilling last-gasp winner means the four-time champions claim the crucial home advantage in their play-off major semi-final, also against Loughborough, on Saturday 6 June.”It’s insane,” stated match-winner Fawns. “I’m so happy. “That game was so tough, it honestly felt like the final. “That’s what Loughborough will bring in the finals series, anyway. So it was nice to have a go at that, and see how tough it is.”The winner of next weekend’s major semi-final will progress to the final, with the champion to be decided in Manchester at the Co-op Live arena on June 20.Rhinos finish bottom after Panthers defeatOn Friday, Birmingham Panthers earned a convincing 67-43 win at Leeds Rhinos to avoid finishing bottom of the Netball Super League.In their final fixture of the season, whoever lost knew they would end the campaign bottom of the eight-team table.The Panthers moved into a 17-11 lead by the end of the first quarter and stretched their advantage further to go in at half-time 31-18 in front.At 37-19 ahead, the Panthers looked to be cruising, although the hosts reduced the deficit to only 12.But the visitors quickly ended any home hopes of a fightback by pulling clear once more, with Betsy Creak ending with 49 goals.This was only the Panthers’ third league win of the season, but they did end with back-to-back victories having defeated London Mavericks 52-51 on Sunday.The Rhinos began their campaign with a 54-39 away success over the Panthers in February, but that was their only league win of the year.Image source, Benjamin BrainImage caption, Birmingham Panthers ended the season with successive victoriesLexisnexis Dragons edge tight Mavericks meetingLexisnexis Dragons signed off their season with a 57-50 win over London Mavericks in a game of fifth against sixth that could not affect the final standings.After drawing the first quarter 11-11, the sides could not be separated again in the second as Niamh McCall scored a super-shot on the buzzer to send the teams into half-time tied on 25 points apiece. In the third super-shot period, the Dragons capitalised again as they pulled away in the final five minutes to start the final quarter with an eight-point lead. Keeping their lead in the final quarter, the Dragons end the season in fifth place with 22 points, their best Netball Super League finish since 2014.On Sunday, Nottingham Forest host London Pulse at the Motorpoint Arena.Related topicsNetball
