Thunder end Bath's unbeaten start to the season in physical encounter, while keeping up their own perfect record with fifth straight win
Saturday 10 March 2018 14:52, UK
Manchester Thunder kept up their perfect start to the Vitality Superleague season with a 60-51 victory at Team Bath on Friday night to keep the heat on leaders Wasps Netball.
The Sky Sports cameras were in historic Bath for a repeat of last year's third-place play-off when Thunder emerged victorious.
Both teams have found themselves among the early pacesetters at the top of this year's table, and a sell-out crowd, including former Manchester United and England legend Paul Scholes, greeted both teams at the University of Bath.
"I love it," said Scholes, who watched his daughter in action for Thunder's youth team before the main event of the evening. "Since [my daughter] was eight or nine I've been watching loads of netball. Probably more netball than football these days."
And the former midfield ace was full of praise for the sport which has been gathering more and more attention up and down the country.
"It's an exciting game, a quick game, a lot of skill involved. The standard is really good. People say it's non-contact but I'm not sure about that, it's very physical as well," he added.
Two-time Superleague champions Thunder set a blistering early pace, although the hosts came on strong towards the end of the first quarter with solid turnover ball to lead 14-13 in what was turning into a nip and tuck battle.
Team Bath, who have won a record five Superleague titles, relied on trio Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Kadeen Corbin, and Chelsea Lewis [shooting at 88 per cent] to help them stay ahead. But Thunder's attack, spearheaded by player of the match Ljana Leota and Kathryn Turner, were not missing a shot and it was the visitors to took a 30-27 advantage at half-time.
Manchester's defensive interceptions and combination plays in attack were killing off the opposition. They carved up an 10-point lead in a seven minute blitz before Lewis was able to find the target from distance for the home side to stop the rot.
Team Bath head coach Anna Stembridge sent on South African international defender Zanele Vimbela to stem the goal rush, but it was the visitors who took a 47-36 lead heading into the final quarter.
A packed home crowd sensed a comeback, but birthday girl Karen Greig saw her side show all their experience to come away with an exceptional win.
"It was a bit dusty," felt Leota. "When we play an open space without any contact then we play really good netball, but when we have the opposition biting on us then we really struggle."
Greig said: "I gave the girls specific tasks to do and they did it well tonight. This win means nothing if we don't back it up against Mavericks next Friday."
On Saturday, Celtic Dragons take on Severn Stars, while benecosMavericks host UWS Sirens, and leaders Wasps Netball will aim to make it six straight wins when they face Team Northumbria.
Vitality Superleague is back on your screens next Friday night when UWS Sirens host Severn Stars, with live coverage on Sky Sports Mix, which you can find on channel 287, and is free for all Sky customers, from 7.15pm.
Team Bath's next fixture sees them on the road at Loughborough Lightning, while Manchester Thunder are at home to benecosMavericks next weekend before the mid-season break for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Follow the 2018 Superleague season with us on Sky Sports and through our website skysports.com/Netball with news, previews, reports and expert analysis throughout the season. And also our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkyNetball - #BelieveTheHype
