Mike Greenwood, head coach of Northern Thunder is a canny man, and it was a wise decision to play his strongest team from the first quarter of the Round 7 FIAT Netball Superleague clash with Celtic Dragons.
WA Jessica Langman wore a black-and-red armband to mark solidarity with those back home in New Zealand affected by the Christchurch earthquake. Dragons also started with a strong line-up, imports Brooke Williams at C and the home crowd’s new favourite Lottysha Cato standing tall under the post at GS.
It was a closer result than the visitors had hoped for at the end of the first 15 minutes, with just a four goal lead and it got no easier in the second quarter. Dragons held tight, matching Thunder 13 goals for 13 goals. The Welsh side are no longer among the “whipping boys” of the Superleague and proved they are ready to compete.
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Rachel Henry came on at WA in the second half for Thunder as WD Sara Bayman swapped bibs with C Jade Clarke. Dragons coach Melissa Hyndman also made changes, bringing on new wings, in attack Amanda Trounce and in defence Kyra Neil. It was another great one for the fans as the teams proved inseparable 11-goals apiece.
Only in the last quarter were Thunder able to extend their lead and even then it was only by two to carve out a six-goal victory in the end. A great match with standout performances from Celtic’s Sara Hale and Thunder’s Jade Clarke.
Melissa Hyndman, Celtic Dragons Head Coach, said: “We were on fire when we first went out on court, I think we gave them a bit of a shock. They must have thought “!!!”. They whooped our arses by 30 last time but this was so close, in the end it came down to experience.
“No one likes to lose but this team will be in the top four come the end of the season, and who knows maybe we can be too.”
Northern Thunder’s assistant coach Suzy Chapman said: “We made hard work of the game today. There were lots of unforced errors but our defence rose to the challenge, especially Kerry Almond and Emma Dovey. We have things to work on and put right before our next journey away to Bath.”
Lisa O’Sullivan – England Netball Match Reporter, Sportsister,
The Women’s Sports Magazine
