IT was an afternoon to forget for the Severn Stars as a clinical Loughborough Lightning side put their hosts to the sword in a 61-41 Superleague defeat. 

Backed by their own fans at the University of Worcester Arena, the Stars were looking to bounce back from their harrowing defeat to Surrey Storm the weekend before. 

The game went with the centre pass until both sides exchanged errors that led to goals as the game swung from end to end. However, Lightning were capitalising at a more frequent rate and more mistakes meant the visitors started to create a lead.

A messy final few minutes for both teams at each end of the court saw neither able to convert, but Lightning soon gathered their composure and further extended their lead over the home side to end the first quarter 6-15 in front.

As the match resumed, Lightning straight away stole the ball and, with more errors from the home side, the visitors capitalised and put themselves 13 goals up early on. But Stars got back in gear, with the shooters quickly putting two consecutive goals in to get the team on the scoreboard.

Jo Trip made changes in attack, bringing youngster Lily Smith on at goal attack, moving Grace Namana to goal shooter and Sigi Burger to the bench. Smith was quick to slot in her first goal of the game, but at the half-time interval, the visitors had a significant 16-32 advantage.

Stars produced two quick goals in the opening minutes of the second half, as midcourter Jess Shaw found Namana under the post, putting the ball over the top of two defenders. Stars defenders made interceptions, but the attackers could not convert.

Smith was able to find her range, scoring twice in a row from distance which boosted the team and Arena crowd. Despite a late surge of goals, Lightning still proved too clinical and extended their lead again, 25-49.

In the final 15 minutes, both teams got off to a quick start. Smith continued her confident shooting, scoring from distance to reduce the deficit. Brown once again forced the ball out of court and teammates brought the ball down court to score.

Mid-courter Jess Shaw spotted Namana under the post and launched the ball with an accurate feed from the transverse line to add to the Stars scoreboard. A few errors in the final few minutes from Lightning saw Stars capitalise.

But, despite scoring their highest number of goals in the final quarter and winning it, it was too late to make up the sizeable deficit and at the whistle the score ended 41- 61 to the visitors.