Netball Super League: Manchester Thunder & Loughborough Lightning keep top two places
Manchester Thunder kept a narrow lead at the top of the Netball Super League table with a comfortable win over Leeds Rhinos.
Goal shooter Paige Reed score 21 goals and Lois Pearson added 27 off the bench in a 67-37 victory.
Rhinos' top scorer Joyce Mvula impressed with 28 of her team's goals.
"We love a northern derby, it's always a ferocious game and we're really happy with it," Thunder centre and player of the match Amy Carter told BBC Sport.
"We're working really well as a unit but we're not looking at the end result yet, we're taking it step by step."
Thunder remain ahead on goal difference but level on points with Loughborough Lightning, who beat Severn Stars in Saturday's second match.
In a closely fought encounter, third-placed Stars kept pace with last year's champions, who led 32-30 at half-time.
But Lightning pulled away in the third and fourth quarters and clung on for a 68-52 victory.
The league's top scorer Mary Cholhok again led the way for Lightning with 37 goals, while Sigrid Burger impressed with 36 goals for Stars.
Cardiff and Surrey seal victories on Friday
Friday's round-nine games delivered wins for Cardiff Dragons and Surrey Storm.
The Dragons narrowly beat Team Bath 52-46 to continue their much-improved run of form in 2024.
The Welsh side struggled in 2023 with only two wins across the entire campaign but their triumph over Bath is already their fourth this year.
Centre Elle McDonald was named player of the match for her 39 feeds, one interception, three deflections and four gains.
The Dragons are fifth in the table while Bath are struggling in ninth with just one win so far.
Surrey registered a 62-48 win over Strathclyde Sirens, who are still searching for their first win in this year's competition.
Proscovia Peace scored 33 goals for Storm and wing defence Rosie Harris was named player of the match as they bounced back from last week's defeat by the Stars.
Netball Super League table
