Loughborough Lightning beat London Pulse 18-17 in the final of the Netball Super Cup on Saturday.
London Pulse were looking to defend their title after winning the inaugural event last year but Loughborough Lightning pipped them in a close final and put down a marker for the season ahead.
The one-day standalone tournament saw all eight Netball Super League teams in action ahead of the start of the regular season.
The eight teams were drawn into two pools for the group stages, during which each team played three shorter length, seven-a-side games.
The two top teams from the two groups progressed to the semi-finals. Lightning beat NIC Leeds Rhinos 13-9 in the first semi-final, while Pulse defeated LexisNexis Dragons 18-16.
In the final the strength of Lightning's circle defence forced Pulse to shoot from long range. This pressure allowed Lightning to get a four-goal lead in the first half but Pulse hit back to trail by two at half-time.
With the score 11-9, Player of the Final Sammy Wallace Joseph unleashed her long-range shooting ability, bagging Amex Super Shots at will to stretch Lightning's advantage.
The goal shooter's 80 per cent Amex Super Shot accuracy proved the difference in a nail-biting finish.
Pulse went on a last-minute run of goals, and momentum swung in their favour, but the buzzer blocked their chance to repeat last year's victory, and they fell one short.
The one-goal victory in the final secured the Soft & Gentle Netball Super Cup for Lightning's trophy cabinet.
