Chelsea Pitman led Nottingham sports into a new era on Saturday afternoon, the new-look Nottingham Forest Netball side taking their place in the season-opening, Super League Cup tournament, at the Utilita Arena, Sheffield.

Eight teams, fifteen games, were played in front of an impressive crowd of over 7,500, with each side playing a minimum of three matches, Forest perhaps surprised when emerging from Group A as runners-up, especially having lost their opening match, 22-15, against Manchester Thunder, South African Goal Shooter, Rolene Streutker, credited with the first Reds’ score of the season.

Despite defeat in the opener, Pitman’s side rallied in their next two game to take second place in the Group, defeating first London Mavericks, 29-15, in what was the biggest win margin of the day, then narrowly edged Birmingham Panthers 18-16 in what was a battle of the Super League’s newcomers.

In the other, Group B, Leeds Rhinos topped their group, also with two wins and a loss, from their three matches (Manchester Thunder the only one of the eight sides to go through the group stage unbeaten).

The semi-finals would see Manchester Thunder face London Pulse in the first of those, whilst Nottingham Forest opposed Leeds Rhinos in the second one, Pulse edging Thunder by one (17-16) in their game whilst the Rhinos edged Forest by two (15-13) in the other.

It would be London Pulse who’d claim the Super Cup, defeating Leeds Rhinos 20-15 in the final, Pulse being the opening day opponents, at the Copper Box Arena (Sunday 16 March, 17:00).

The first home game of the new era arrives the following Friday (21 March) under the lights of the Motorpoint Arena, when Forest welcome Cardiff Dragons.

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*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFNetball action during the Super Cup in Sheffield.