Phoenix Heat climbed to the top of the standings in the Bermuda Netball Association Senior League for the first time this season following a 45-7 victory over Docksiders at Bernard Park on Saturday.

The win, the eighth in a row for Erika Russell’s defending champions, resulted in them usurping Lindo’s Tigers who have been at the summit of the table for the better part of the season. With two matches each left to play for the title contenders, Heat have 24 points, and Tigers are on 22.

Goal shooter Ebonie Cox led the scoring for Heat with 28 goals, while goal attack Danielle Raynor contributed 17 points. Docksiders, the only team yet to record a win this season, got their goals from Charlie Evans and Denise Carpenter.

The match was in doubt as a result of heavy rain pre-match but while the contest did start, it was abandoned midway into the third quarter but enough time had been played for the result to stand.

Heat are still to play St George’s in a rescheduled encounter before coming up against Anthony Mouchette’s Tigers in what should be a title decider and Kianté Lightbourne, one of Heat’s outstanding players this season, feels her side have hit form at the right time.

“It feels good to be on top,” Lightbourne said. “We like to be on top and that was our aim at the beginning of the season. Now we just have to follow it up with wins against St George’s and Tigers, hopefully.

“We want to win the league, we always want to win the league but we have to take it one game at a time.

“It would be nice if our last game is against Tigers as that would really make it exciting. It puts some added pressure on that game and we want to see how we can perform under pressure.

“I'm wishing for a nice competitive match as there are some really great netballers in Bermuda, so it’s really good to see competitive games and everyone looking forward to playing in those games.

“It’s even better when spectators come out because there is a lot of talent in down here at these netball courts and we want everyone to see it.”

Heat tweaked their team against Docksiders, with Raynor and Cox swapping positions. Junior players K'Xiyae Gibbons, Sydney Santos and Jaya Dillas were given an extended run.

“It was a good game, we switched it up a little bit tonight and it worked for us,’’ Lightbourne said.

“Danielle was playing goal attack and showed her versatility. She showed that while she is used to playing in the circle, she can play anywhere.

“Ebonie also showed her ability to hold as a shooter and making a lot of space for herself in the circle.

“It was really good to see the junior players really thriving on court, Sydney was such a marvel to watch as a playmaker.

“Docksiders are a man-on-man marking team and it does present different challenges, so it’s good for us to keep working hard at that. K'Xiyae was in the circle and reading the whole play, picking up interceptions almost every play.”