Lightning scrap for win away at Thunder, Feb 07

Not a great game from Lightning's perspective but a win away from home is a win. Thunder are an ever improving team and played hard in front of a partisan home crowd.

The first quarter was a relatively tight affair that Lightning edged 10-6. Without Jade Clarke available in mid-court Rose Port chose to start the game with the mid-court combination that finished the game against Dragons. Consequently Tash Hampshire got her first start in Lightning colours and played a second solid game. The main change for Lightning was to see Ama Agbeze starting at GA to give another new shooting combination for Lightning. However despite Ama's presence in the shooting circle we didnt really settle and should have finished the quarter with a greater lead.

The second quarter was taken by Thunder with Lightning playing below par. Whilst the team were working hard throughout we couldnt convert enough chances to build on the four goal lead. Thunder conversely picked up the pace of their play. With Natalie Wooley, their young goal shooter, finding her range more consistently Thunder had drawn level by half time (19-19).

Half time saw changes to the Lightning line up with Agbeze dropping from GA to defence, Stephenson coming on at GA, and Hampshire making way for O’Neill who came on at C. The changed line up worked with Lightning creating 25 shooting opportunities during the quarter and opening up a five goal lead on Thunder. However having had a four goal lead at the end of the first and seen it slip away the result was still far from certain going in to the last quarter (35-30).

Further changes to the Lightning line up saw Tomlin coming back on at GD and Agbeze swapping to GK, her third position of the match. This tightened up Lightning’s defence for the last 15 minutes and Thunder were restricted to only eight scoring chances. This allowed Lightning to extend their lead and finish the game worthy, if a little relieved, winners 44-37.

Lightning scrapped for this game and came away with the spoils. However it could and should have been a more comfortable win. We created chances but failed to finish and that is something the team will be working hard on for the crunch game against Bath in a week’s time.