MATCH REPORT NORTHERN THUNDER Vs LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

10TH November 2007

at The Greenbank Sports Academy, Liverpool

Lightning girls were keen to bounce back quickly after their defeat to Northumbria last week and did so by a convincing 67-28 margin.

Coach Rose Port rang the changes at the start of the game seeing Sarah Jane O'Sullivan make her debut for Lightning as WA and the defensive pairing of Sarah Penny and Kara Luck. Lightning made a quick and confident start with Kara Luck turning over numerous interceptions with the assistance of Vicky Percy at WD and Olivia Murphy at C. The fluency in attack had also returned with feeders being able to find GS Astle with ease. An air of confidence grew as the quarter progressed resulting in a 22-9 lead at quarter time.

Heather Clarke replaced Lisa Stephenson as GA for the second quarter and for Thunder captain Lisa Ferneyhough moved from GD to GK in an attempt to nullify the threat of Astle. For the first part of the quarter this worked to good effect as the Lightning feeds became less accurate and Thunder grew in confidence. The Lightning defence continued to pressurise the inexperienced Thunder attack and forced them into untimely errors.

Kate Murphy was introduced at half time in place of the hard working Percy at WD and Astle replaced by Heather Clarke at GS and Lisa Stephenson returning at GA. Thunder again made changes all over the court in an effort to stem the flow of Lightning pressure. The quarter started untidily with both teams making unforced errors. Charlotte Beenham continued to impress for Thunder at GA with her consistent shooting and patient build up play, while Kimorne Grey put the Lightning shooters under pressure at the other end. As the quarter progressed Lightning asserted their authority once again with some quick and intelligent interplay and with all Lightning shooters maintaining an 80% plus average.

In the final quarter changes were again made by Lightning with Natasha Hampshire coming into WA, Vicky Percy replacing Olivia Murphy at C, Verona Tomlin as GD and the shooting combination of Astle and Stephenson returning to the court. This was the most competitive quarter of the game with Thunder turning up their defensive pressure. Kate Murphy also shone as WD for Lightning with her immense work rate and numerous intercepts. Kara Luck was named Lightning man of the match but coach Port was most pleased with the way her team bounced back from defeat.